title: Availability and affordability of treatment for Human African Trypanosomiasis.
abstract: Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a re-emerging disease whose usual treatments are becoming less efficient because of the increasing parasite resistance. Availability of HAT drugs is poor and their production in danger because of technical, ecological and economic constraints. In view of this dramatic situation, a network involving experts from NGOs, WHO and pharmaceutical producers was commissioned with updating estimates of need for each HAT drug for the coming years; negotiations with potential producers of new drugs such as eflornithine; securing sustainable manufacturing of existing drugs; clinical research into new combinations of these drugs for first and second-line treatments; centralizing drug purchases and their distribution through a unique non-profit entity; and addressing regulatory and legal issues concerning new drugs.
authors.affiliation: Médecins Sans Frontières, 8 Rue Saint Sabin, Paris.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Etchegorry
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Helenport
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pecoul
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jannin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Legros
mesh_terms: D000518:Eflornithine / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics; D013498:Suramin / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D013498:Suramin; D010419:Pentamidine; D008549:Melarsoprol; D000518:Eflornithine