Leishmaniasis |
First approved in 1990, Gilead's therapeutic AmBisome has shown in clinical studies potent anti-parasitic and fungicidal activity against multiple pathogens, including mucosal and visceral leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is a parasitic disease. It is the second-largest parasitic killer in the world, responsible for more than 60,000 deaths per year. Currently, it is estimated that there are half a million new cases of visceral leishmaniasis per year, with 90 percent occurring in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Nepal and Sudan. If left untreated, visceral leishmaniasis is nearly always fatal. If treated effectively, the survival rate is 95 percent. Our goal is to expand access to AmBisome for the treatment of leishmaniasis in settings where the disease has the largest impact. Gilead works closely with the World Health Organization and other NGOs to provide AmBisome at a preferential price for the treatment of leishmaniasis in resource-limited settings. And we actively support multiple clinical research studies aimed at elucidating the best treatment course for visceral leishmaniasis. |