Medicines Development for Global Health receives US$1M grant for a moxidectin pilot community treatment program

‍Medicines Development for Global Health receives US$1M grant for a moxidectin pilot community treatment program

We gratefully acknowledge the generous US$1M grant made by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support a pilot community treatment program for onchocerciasis (river blindness) with moxidectin in the Twifo Ati-Morkwa district of Ghana. This pilot will generate important data on implementing moxidectin and at the same time target elimination of onchocerciasis transmission, which continues in the district despite many years of treatment with ivermectin. The project is a key step in MDGH’s product access strategy, leading to wider adoption in communities where onchocerciasis is endemic, and is being planned in partnership with the Ghana Health Service. Other partners are the Bruyère Research Institute in Canada and the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana.

Moxidectin has the potential to act as an effective tool in the reduction, if not elimination, of disease transmission.

Emily McCaffrey, Head of Philanthropy at Medicines Development for Global Health said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for their remarkable gift in support of our work. We look forward to partnering with them and country partners to pursue our vision – the elimination of neglected diseases to advance global health equity.”

The Helmsley Charitable Trust is a global philanthropy committed to helping people live better lives today and creating stronger, healthier futures for individuals and communities. They partner with people and organisations to invest in new ideas or research across six program areas: Crohn’s Disease, Israel, Rural Healthcare, Type 1 Diabetes, Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa, and New York City.

For more information about this grant, visit the Helmsley Charitable Trust's website.

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