HTech4Dev
was recently approached by the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative (DNDi) a non-profit
product-development partnership. DNDi aims at improving the quality of life and
the health of people suffering from neglected diseases by working in
partnership with private industry, public institutions, academia and NGOs. DNDi
is seeking new treatments and new diagnostics for the Onchocerciasis disease (also
known as river blindness), a human filarial infection caused by a nodule-dwelling
filarial nematode. The question DNDi addressed to HTech4Dev relates to the
availability of a cheap and robust technology able to facilitate disease
diagnostic, and to assess the effect of novel drug candidates. Through
HTech4Dev, contact has been initiated between DNDI, several technology
providers and several field experts in France and in Cameroon, the country
where the only relevant animal model is maintained. A meeting will be soon organized
in Aviesan’s premises to coordinate this work and to identify adequate
financing.
