Neglected tropical diseases
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of about 20 communicable, often-debilitating conditions that affect more than 1.7 billion people in 150 countries around the world. These diseases – such as soil transmitted helminths (STH), dengue and leprosy – disproportionately impact the poorest and most vulnerable communities. NTDs have a considerable impact on the lives of the people they affect, contributing to significant morbidity and long-term loss of economic productivity.
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Our enduring commitment to combat intestinal worms
Johnson & Johnson has long worked to tackle intestinal worm, or soil transmitted helminths infections, which despite being treatable, are the most widespread NTD, impacting more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, including 835 million children
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By the numbers
2B+
Doses of our intestinal worm medicine donated since 2006
200M
Doses of our medicine for intestinal worms donated each year
53+
Countries receiving our intestinal worm medicine through our donation program
Unlocking NTD innovation through collaboration
Investing in local scientific capacity
In June 2022, Johnson & Johnson launched the first Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery in Asia at Duke-NUS in Singapore. This unique research collaboration brings together leading scientists in the Asia Pacific region with Johnson & Johnson to help stimulate the early-stage science, innovation and talent development needed to tackle flaviviruses, including dengue, yellow fever, Zika and other pandemic threats.
Enabling research
Johnson & Johnson, in partnership with WIPO Re:Search, has made its JumpstARter Library available to drug discovery researchers in order to identify and advance promising drug candidates to fight neglected infectious diseases. The library includes a diverse collection of 80,000 high-quality drug-like small molecules and compound fragments created to “jump-start” drug discovery collaborations.
People and progress
Johnson & Johnson Marks More Than 2 Billion Doses of Medicine Donated to Date to Help Combat Intestinal Worms
Millions of children in more than 50 countries have received deworming medication since the donation program began in 2006, enabling them to grow and thrive The Company continues to build upon its longstanding commitment to address neglected tropical diseases through R&D efforts targeting dengue and leprosy
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Within our company, we recognize that more of the same won’t do. Instead, today’s evolving public health threats require us to undertake new and innovative approaches to achieve long-term impact for entire communities—not just individuals—in the world’s most vulnerable populations. This fight can only be won if we all work together.
Marinx Van LoockR&D Lead Emerging Pathogens, Global Public Health -
By enabling basic research around NTDs, we are making a difference in identifying new targets and molecular templates that can be potentially developed into effective therapeutics. All of these efforts are contributing to our goal of being able to effectively treat and eliminated neglected tropical diseases
Paul JacksonScientific Director, Global Public Health -
The current multi-drug therapy for leprosy works; however, further simplifying and shortening treatment, developing alternative treatments in case of resistance to current leprosy therapy and being able to prevent transmission are what is needed to aid in elimination of leprosy in the world.
Tine De MarezCompound Development Team Leader, Global Public Health
Program highlights
Johnson & Johnson Opens First Satellite Center for Global Health Discovery in Asia Pacific at Duke-NUS to Advance Dengue Research
The new Satellite Center will work to accelerate discovery research against flaviviruses, including dengue, which impacts 400 million people each year This effort will build on Johnson & Johnson’s decade-long legacy and ongoing collaboration with Duke-NUS in early-stage dengue research The Satellite Center is the first Asia Pacific site in Johnson & Johnson’s network of research collaborations aimed at addressing entrenched and emerging pandemic threats
Johnson & Johnson Marks More Than 2 Billion Doses of Medicine Donated to Date to Help Combat Intestinal Worms
Millions of children in more than 50 countries have received deworming medication since the donation program began in 2006, enabling them to grow and thrive The Company continues to build upon its longstanding commitment to address neglected tropical diseases through R&D efforts targeting dengue and leprosy
Statement on Completion of First-in-Human Trial Evaluating a Dengue-specific Antiviral Compound
Statement attributed to Marnix Van Loock, Lead for Emerging Pathogens, Global Public Health R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV