Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, remains a threat to communities in remote regions of Africa.

Caused by parasites and transmitted by the infected tsetse fly, sleeping sickness is fatal if not treated. While cases have dropped significantly in recent years with better control and broader treatment options, complex administration and delivery methods remain a challenge in underserved populations. But hope to eliminate this disease is on the horizon with a potential single-dose oral therapy, which if approved, will be donated to WHO through Foundation S.

The progress achieved in recent years stems from private and public partnerships like our long-time work with WHO and the non-profit organization, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). By working together, we have the potential to change the treatment paradigm and provide sustainable access to therapy in support of the WHO’s goal to eliminate sleeping sickness by 2030.

How we are addressing the problem

Our efforts to advance treatment options and eliminate sleeping sickness are not new. 

We have been collaborating with the non-profit organization DNDi since 2009 and the World Health Organization since 2001. Together, we brought the first full oral multi-dose therapy for sleeping sickness and are working to bring a new, single-dose oral therapy to patients. 

Our ambition is to transform the treatment paradigm for vulnerable communities and to enable sustainable elimination of the disease through education programs and donation of medicine, including potential new therapies that will simplify administration.

News:

Eliminating sleeping sickness has never been closer

Neglected tropical diseases, including sleeping sickness, collectively affect more than one billion people annually. Foundation S - The Sanofi Collective has set a major goal: to contribute to eliminate sleeping sickness by 2030. That's the commitment of Foundation S, in partnership with WHO and DNDi, with an innovative treatment.