Developing-World Disease Vaccines Being Prepared for Human Tests

Friday, February 28, 2014

The fight against poverty-related diseases is gaining ground as scientists prepare trials of vaccines for hookworm, leishmaniasis and other parasitic diseases common in the developing world, thanks to the support of public research funding.

The problem has been that developing countries harbour most of the planet’s chronic diseases, but attract only a small share of its research funding.

That’s mainly because pharmaceutical companies require high returns to justify bank-busting research investments, but victims of poverty-related diseases can rarely afford to pay for patented medicines.

But the anaemia and stunted growth caused by parasitic infections keeps adults away from work, children out of school, and leaves economies on their knees.

Source: Science World Report (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
public health, vaccines