The current medical discovery paradigm has failed to address the treatment need for diseases of high priority

for Africa. The Coronavirus disease is a sad example. The director of the Africa-CDC makes the case clear—Africa is ‘shoved’ out of the global diagnostics market (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01265-0). Cutaneous leishmaniasis is another example. The team at CDT-Africa makes the case in a publication in the American Chemical Society (https://pubs.acs.org/articlesonrequest/AOR-BWHTQPGE57BYBESZCPAR). Virtually no new effective drug has been developed in the past 70 years. The past two decades had witnessed relatively increased attention toward neglected diseases by stimulating pharmaceutical industries through introductions of Priority Review Vouchers (PRVs) and Product Development Partnerships (PDPs). However, the lion’s share of resources allocated for research and development by PRVs and PDPs is directed toward research organizations and pharmaceutical industries in developed countries. This new approach has also not led to the development of drugs for most neglected diseases including cutaneous leishmaniasis. Improving the medical discovery capacity of countries where these diseases are prevalent and enabling exploration of the hitherto untapped natural resources are an effective and sustainable solution.

CDT-Africa offers a unique regional platform to build medical discovery capacity in Africa. This is not an ordinary responsibility. We value your engagement and support.