Merck 2014 Annual Report Download - page 33

28 MAGAZINE → Health for everyone
The hazard lurks in water in which people
swim, fish or wash clothes. In stagnant
freshwater, the larvae of the schistoma
worm penetrate the skin and enter the
blood vessels of their victims, infecting
them. This infectious tropical disease
affects no fewer than 240 million people
worldwide, mainly in Africa but also in
parts of South America and Asia. The
acute symptoms range from a rash to
life-threatening fever. The long-term con-
sequences include chronic inflammation
of various organs, which can also lead to
death. Up to 200,000 of those infected die
each year from the effects of the disease. It
is a vicious cycle. The female’s eggs infest
inner organs such as the colon, spleen or
liver, where the larvae develop into worms,
the eggs of which are then excreted via
the urine or feces of those infected. Fresh-
water snails then act as a host in which
the eggs develop into larvae, which in
turn penetrate the human body. This
cycle can be broken by the active ingre-
dient praziquantel, which Merck KGaA,
Darmstadt, Germany, developed as part of
a research collaboration in the 1970s. It
was a milestone in the treatment of the
worm disease that has made it possible to
cure schistosomiasis in many millions of
people.
With its broad-based Praziquantel Do-
nation Program, the company has been
actively supporting the World Health
Organization (WHO) in the fight against
the dangerous
disease in Africa since 2007.
To date, it has
donated around 200 million
tablets to WHO. Altogether, more than
54 million patients, primarily children,
have been treated. “However, millions of
children worldwide still suffer from
schistosomiasis. The disease prevents them
from learning and weakens development
potential in the affected countries. We
want to give children new opportunities
while at the same time promoting eco-
nomic growth and making a brighter
future possible,” says Stefan Oschmann,
Vice Chairman of the Executive Board,
whose responsibilities include the topic
of Corporate Responsibility. Meeting this
ambitious goal calls for sophisticated
logistics. The company produces the
medicine in Mexico and transports it in
coordination with WHO and the respective
health ministries to the affected countries
thousands of kilometers away. “We want
to work with multiple constituencies in a
strong alliance to help fight schistosomi
a-
sis worldwide,” explains Frank Got
thardt,
Head of
Public Affairs & Corporate Re-
sponsibility,
who is responsible for the
program. The infection rate is especially
high among children and the symptoms
that result are particularly serious; schis-
tosomiasis stunts growth, causes learn-
ing disabilities and leads to anemia. The
problem is that in its current form, the
medication is not suitable for children
under the age of six. “Together with inter-
national partners, we are therefore devel-
oping a new pediatric formulation of
praziquantel for young children, which is
now being investigated in initial clinical
trials,” says Jutta Reinhard-Rupp, Head of
the Group's Global Health Translational
Platform.
“ WE WANT TO WORK WITH
MULTIPLE CONSTITUENCIES
IN A STRONG ALLIANCE TO
HELP FIGHT SCHISTOSOMIA-
SIS WORLDWIDE.
”
FRANK GOTTHARDT →
HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS &
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY