How we are helping eliminate invasive fungal infections
For more than 30 years, we've worked with the World Health Organization to address the burdens of invasive fungal infections and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cryptococcal meningitis.
We were one of the original endorsers of the London Declaration supporting the control and elimination of NTDs and we reaffirmed our commitment by signing onto the Kigali Declaration in 2022.
What is Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL)?
VL, or kala-azar, is one of the most dangerous NTDs globally, affecting some of the world’s most impoverished communities. It is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver and anemia.
Between 700,000 and 1 million cases of visceral leishmaniasis occur each year — if left untreated, it is fatal in more than 95% of cases.
VL is most prevalent in 80 low-and middle-income countries, including in east Africa, the Indian subcontinent, central and southwest Asia, the Middle East and Brazil.
VL is particularly dangerous for people living with HIV, as co-infections have been linked to accelerated HIV replication and higher mortality rates.
Expanding Access to Visceral Leishmaniasis Treatment
Since 1992, we have partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health groups to provide medicine, at discounted prices for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in countries most impacted by the disease.
Our commitment to supporting the WHO VL elimination framework exceeds $31 million, including the donation of over 1.13 million vials of our medicine, financial assistance and work with Médecins Sans Frontières and Unitaid to help prevent, diagnose and treat VL.
In 2026, we signed an agreement with the WHO to donate an additional 400,000 vials of our medicine. The renewed collaboration includes financial assistance that will support improved coverage and access to screening in affected populations in high-burden countries including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, Kenya, Nepal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen, along with expansion to Chad and Djibouti to treat severe cases.
As a result of this partnership VL morbidity in South East Asia has decreased by 82%, and we’ve helped reduce the number of reported VL cases in Nepal, Bangladesh and India by over 95%. And in 2023, the WHO announced that VL was eliminated as a public health threat in Bangladesh.
What is Cryptococcal Meningitis?
Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is an opportunistic fungal infection that is a leading cause of death in HIV-infected adults, accounting for nearly one-fifth of global HIV-associated mortality.
More than 150,000 cases are diagnosed each year among people living with HIV and other people with compromised immune system, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
Vast inequities persist in CM mortality rates between low-income countries and high-income countries.