Sanofi and DNDi sign research collaboration deal
To generate new drugs for Neglected Tropical Diseases
French drugmaker Sanofi and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) have agreed a three-year research collaboration to generate new treatments for nine neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
The agreement covers kinetoplastid diseases (leishmaniass, Chagas disease, and human African trypanosomiasis), helminth infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis), and dracunculiasis, fascioliasis, and schistosomiasis.
Under the agreement, Sanofi will initially bring molecules from its libraries into the partnership, while both companies will collaborate in research activities on molecular scaffolds.
The core of the agreement lies in the management of intellectual property generated through the collaboration.
The rights to results produced by the partnership will be co-owned by Sanofi and DNDi.
‘We believe that this level of private-sector involvement in open-research collaboration to deliver appropriate medicines as public goods is vital to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations of the world,’ said Dr Bernard Pécoul, executive director of DNDi.
‘The agreement allows DNDi to continue making science work more efficiently for the patients who need it most. We encourage and commend such engagement.’
Dr Elias Zerhouni, president of Global Research & Development at Sanofi, added: ‘In this new research collaboration with DNDi, we have taken a firm step towards greater flexibility in the sharing of knowledge to produce new medicines.’
