Skip to main content

Table 1 Global data of countries affected by NTDs, drugs donated, burden of each disease, and number of patent families

From: Patent landscape of neglected tropical diseases: an analysis of worldwide patent families

Neglected Tropical Diseases (PCT/IDM)

Number of countries

Disease burden

Interventions

Effectiveness of current interventions

Granted patent families/all patent families

Incidence

Prevalence

DALYs

Prevention

Treatment

Drug Resistance

Drug Donated

Prevention

Treatment

Buruli ulcer (IDM)

33

No data

No data

No data

There are currently no primary preventive measures that can be applied. The mode of transmission is not known and there is no vaccine.

Rifampicin and streptomycin

Yes [29]

No

N/A

High

103/322

Rifampicin and clarithromycin

Yes [29]

No

High

Chagas disease (IDM)

21

8404

6,653,578

236,100

Vector control is the most effective method of prevention. Blood screening is necessary to prevent infection through transfusion and organ transplantation.

Benznidazole and Nifurtimox

Yes [30]

No

Low

High

449/1658

Dengue

>100

86,257,710

4,729,962

1,892,200

The main method of prevention is to combat vector mosquitoes. The first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV) by Sanofi Pasteur, was registered in several countries.

No specific drug to treat

No

No

Low

N/A

829/2879

Dracunculiasis (PCT)

3

No data

No data

No data

There is no vaccine to prevent. Prevention is possible through complex preventive strategies.

No specific drug to treat

No

No

High

N/A

15/63

Echinococcosis

Very few countries are completely free of these parasites

313,264

1,382,975

600,000

Prevention programs focus on deworming of dogs and sheep. In the case of cystic echinococcosis, control measures also include improved food inspection, slaughterhouse hygiene, and public education campaigns.

Percutaneous treatment of the hydatid cysts with PAIR (Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, Re-aspiration) technique

Yes [31]

No

High

Low

96/535

Food-borne trematodiases

75

No data

71,095,424

168,500

Veterinary public health measures and food safety practices and education are recommended to reduce the risk of infection. Triclabendazole/Praziquantel through MDA programs.

Triclabendazole/Praziquantel

Yes [32]

Yes

High

High

59/269

  1. PCT Preventive chemotherapy and transmission control
  2. IDM innovative and intensified disease management
  3. MDA mass drug administration
  4. N/A not applicable
  5. SAFE surgery for advanced disease, antibiotics to clear Chlamydia trachomatis infection, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement to reduce transmission
  6. Sources: 1) The disease burden disability adjusted life years (DALYS) (the sum of years lost due to premature death (YLLs) and years lived with disability (YLDs)), Incidence (the total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time), and Prevalence (the number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population), values -2015 were obtained from Global Health Data Exchange [43] and [14], 2) The number of countries and drugs used (Preventive Chemotherapy and Transmission Control; and Innovative and Intensified Disease Management) were obtained from WHO fact sheets [44], 3) Data on number of patent families was retrieved from Patseer database, 4) Efficacy/effectiveness/efficiency notes were obtained from the Third WHO Report on Neglected Tropical Diseases [45]