Merck Highlights Decentralized Manufacturing for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Universal Health Coverage at World Health Assembly

Darmstadt, Germany, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading technology companyMerck (Merck)Held today in Geneva, SwitzerlandThe 72nd World Health AssemblyModerated a panel discussion titled “Leaving No One Behind: From Charity to Sustainable Health Solutions. How Can Decentralized Manufacturing Be Part of an Integrated Approach to Addressing Neglected Tropical Diseases and Advancing Universal Health Coverage?” The panel included some of the world’s leading health and policy experts:

Wu Boda stated, “Merck is committed to advancing research and development to eliminate neglected and emerging diseases, such as schistosomiasis, one of the most common and devastating parasitic diseases in tropical countries, which causes more than 280,000 deaths annually. Like the World Health Organization, we are dedicated to addressing these global challenges and improving people’s quality of life.”

The group discussed the role of decentralized manufacturing as a strategy to address issues in accessing medicines and biological products, as well as to combat neglected tropical diseases. According to the World Health Organization, manufacturing health technologies has long been a goal for officials in developing countries worldwide, who are collaborating with private sector partners to establish production capabilities.

Dr. Wu stated, “We have learned from our partners and governments that people around the world strongly desire to implement biomanufacturing to mitigate supply chain risks, address endemic diseases, and enable production at acceptable or competitive costs. Today’s single-use and bioprocessing solutions make this aspiration achievable. We are ready to support governments and manufacturers in advancing decentralized biomanufacturing infrastructure to improve patient access to life-saving biologics and biosimilars.”

Merck has been supporting the World Health Organization in the fight against schistosomiasis in Africa through its Healthcare business sector since 2007. To date, the most effective treatment for this disease is Cesol.^®600: This is a tablet formulation containing praziquantel, an active ingredient with good tolerability. Merck KGaA manufactures these tablets at its facility in Mexico and covers the transportation and logistics costs associated with shipping them to Africa, while the World Health Organization (WHO) is responsible for management, monitoring, and distribution documentation at the local level.

Merck has established key partnerships with leading universities and research institutions to drive the development of the entire vaccine industry, including Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor College of Medicine) and the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford (Oxford University's Jenner Institute)。

The company has two separate collaborations with Baylor College of Medicine, one through its Life Science business and the other through its Healthcare business. In 2017, Merck’s Life Science business formed a strategic alliance with Baylor College of Medicine to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. Also in 2017, Merck’s Healthcare business began collaborating with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland) and Baylor College of Medicine to research and develop new biomarkers for schistosomiasis vaccines and diagnostics.

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