Medicine developed against 'forgotten' tropical disease

Fourteen public and private parties, including pharmaceutical companies Astellas (TYO: 4503) and Merck KGaA (MRK: DE), have developed a drug for a 'forgotten' tropical disease: schistosomiasis. This is a serious worm infection that mainly occurs in Africa and South America.

The disease affects 250 million people worldwide, 50 million of whom are children. And they are the ones who are hit hard by the infection, according to a website posting by the Dutch Association of Innovative Medicines (VIG).

The Utrecht foundation Lygature, co-founder of the consortium, has coordinated the collaboration between the 14 parties for the past 12 years. Director Jorg Janssen calls the willingness of the German Merck and the Japanese Astellas to invest 'decisive'. 'Thanks to their involvement, we have been able to raise Japanese and European funds.'