Novartis vows to continue fight to end leprosy

MANILA, Philippines - As people around the globe commemorated World Leprosy Day on Jan. 30, research-based Swiss healthcare company Novartis vowed to continue the fight to end a disease that has condemned sufferers to isolation, rejection and persecution since biblical times.

Since 2000 Novartis, through the World Health Organization (WHO), has provided at no cost close to 100 percent of the global supply of multi-drug therapy (MDT) against leprosy.

This donation, which is equivalent to $60 million, has helped cure approximately five million patients.

The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) has played a major role in both reducing the stigma of leprosy and helping patients reintegrate into society.

“We have made tremendous progress, but the battle has not yet been completely won. We are committed to ensuring that patients receive the medications they need and we intend to continue our partnership with WHO until the final elimination of this debilitating disease,” said Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis.

“It is our privilege to contribute in the efforts to eliminate leprosy. This will require a continued, concerted effort by all parties to sustain the substantial gains made so far and to take leprosy elimination to the next step and focus on elimination at the sub-national level,” said NFSD president and CEO Klaus Leisinger.

Over the past 20 years, more than 14 million leprosy patients have been cured, about four million since 2000, according to WHO.

The prevalence rate of the disease has dropped by 90 percent and there has been a dramatic decrease in the global disease burden: from 5.2 million in 1985 to 213,036 cases (mainly in Asia and Africa) at the end of 2008.

Leprosy has been eliminated from 119 out of 122 countries where the disease was considered a public health problem in 1985.

Early diagnosis and treatment with MDT remain the key elements in eliminating the disease as a public health concern. So far, there has been no resistance to anti-leprosy treatment when used as MDT.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the rod-shaped bacillus Mycobacterium leprae, a close relative of the TB-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes, among other structures.

It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases. Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. 

Recommended by WHO since 1981, MDT has revolutionized the treatment of leprosy. It consists of three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine.

MDT cures leprosy patients, interrupting transmission of the disease after the first dose of medication and preventing disabilities. Two of the three drugs used in MDT were developed in the research laboratories of Novartis.

In October 2010, Novartis and WHO formally announced the extension of their anti-leprosy collaboration until 2015. Novartis will continue to provide free MDT medicine.

The company’s donation to WHO, valued at about $26 million, will treat an estimated 1.1 million leprosy patients during the five-year commitment.

In addition, Novartis will provide up to $2.5 million to cover costs incurred by WHO for handling the donation and logistics.

The Philippines has made significant progress in its fight against leprosy. Data from the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the Department of Health (DOH) show that leprosy morbidity rate of 4.4 per 100,000 population in 1995 was reduced to 0.7 per 100,000 population in 2008, with 603 reported cases that year.

In 2008, Region 1 (Ilocos region) had the highest morbidity rate (2.7 per 100,000 population) followed by Region 7 (Central Visayas, 1.8 per 100,000 population) and Region 8 (Eastern Visayas, 1.6 per 100,000 population).

Novartis Healthcare Philippines is currently working with the DOH in implementing the National Leprosy Control Program (NLCP).

Established by the French philosopher, lawyer and journalist Raoul Follereau on Jan. 31, 1954, World Leprosy Day aims to highlight the fact that people with leprosy are as worthy of dignity and respect as any one and deserve to live their lives as fully as they choose.

This year’s commemoration is particularly significant as implementation of the WHO Enhanced Global Strategy for Further Reducing the Disease Burden due to Leprosy 2011-2015 began last Jan. 1. The global strategy focuses on the reduction of leprosy-related disability and promoting the human rights of those affected.

“We fully support global efforts to end leprosy, and will ensure that Filipinos suffering from the disease are provided with MDT,” said Novartis Healthcare Philippines CPO head and country president Eric van Oppens.

“In line with our caring and curing philosophy, we will continue our partnership with WHO, DOH and private sector stakeholders to provide Filipino patients with access to effective anti-leprosy medicine,” said Christine Liwanag, corporate affairs and market access director of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.