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 infected tsetse flies, sleeping sickness is fatal if left untreated. While cases have dropped dramatically in recent years with better control and wider treatment options, complex administration methods remain a challenge in underserved populations. Hope of eliminating this disease is on the horizon with a potential single-dose oral treatment, which, if approved, will be donated to WHO via Foundation S.

Progress in recent years has come from private and public partnerships such as our long-standing work with the WHO and the non-profit organization, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). Working together, we have the potential to change the treatment paradigm and provide sustainable access to treatment to support the WHO's goal of eliminating sleeping sickness by 2030.

How we are addressing the problem

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

We've been collaborating with the non-profit organization DNDi since 2009, and with the World Health Organization since 2001. Together, we developed the first complete multi-dose oral treatment, fexinidazole, for sleeping sickness, and are now working to bring a new single-dose oral treatment to patients.

Our ambition is to transform the treatment paradigm for vulnerable communities and enable the sustainable elimination of the disease through educational programs and drug donations, including the development of 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.