The NTD Supply Chain Forum-Strengthening the backbone of NTD programs

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Nov 5;14(11):e0008818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008818. eCollection 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Global programs targeting 5 preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTDs) have scaled up rapidly in recent decades due, in large part, to the generous drug donations from 6 pharmaceutical companies-Eisai; Johnson & Johnson (J&J); GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, United States of America (MSD); Merck KgaA; and Pfizer. Today, the scale of the PC-NTD drug donation programs is staggering. Nearly 15 billion tablets have been manufactured, packaged, shipped, and distributed in order to reach the people in need. The supply chains established to support such massive operations are enormously complex. Here, we describe a unique public-private partnership that was formed to bring together supply chain expertise to overcome the critical challenges associated with such large-scale production and delivery of donated pharmaceutical products.

MeSH terms

  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Industry / statistics & numerical data*
  • Elephantiasis, Filarial / drug therapy
  • Global Health
  • Helminthiasis / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Neglected Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Neglected Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Onchocerciasis / drug therapy
  • Public-Private Sector Partnerships*
  • Schistosomiasis / drug therapy
  • Trachoma / drug therapy
  • Tropical Medicine / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Antiprotozoal Agents

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.