The World Health Organization (WHO) and Bayer AG have renewed a longstanding collaboration to support endemic countries in scaling up free-of-charge treatment against three deadly Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), namely Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and taeniasis/cysticercosis (pork tapeworm disease).

The agreement, which was signed by WHO on August 26, 2025 and by Bayer AG on October 2, 2025, also stipulates that Bayer AG provide USD 9.45 million in support of WHO’s programmatic work and operations on these three conditions at global, regional and country levels during the crucial years between 2025 and 2030. This will enable Member States and partners to accelerate progress towards the 2030 targets set in the NTD roadmap 2021–2030.

“On behalf of WHO and the Member States, we are mandated to represent, I extend our deepest gratitude to Bayer AG, not only for their generous contribution to the fight against neglected tropical diseases, but also for their exemplary model of collaboration between the private and public sectors. Such a longstanding collaboration, spanning over 20 years, is a witness to our mutual trust and confidence,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, WHO.

Regarding human African trypanosomiasis, the new agreement makes provision for a donation of suramin vials and two different formulations of nifurtimox tablets, in addition to financial support for disease elimination activities.

In recent years, Bayer AG’s support has helped build strong momentum for the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis. Between 2020 and 2025, 10 countries have been validated by WHO for eliminating either the gambiense or the rhodesiense forms of this condition as a public health problem: Benin, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. In 2024, only 546 cases of the gambiense form and 37 cases of the rhodesiense form were reported to WHO, despite extensive case-finding activities implemented in all endemic countries, marking a further step towards elimination.

Since 2013, Bayer AG has supported the fight against sleeping sickness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country with the largest burden of disease, where its contribution has helped significantly in reducing the number of cases. This focus will continue in the coming years, with strengthened screening, capacity-building, awareness campaigns and surveillance.  

“For over two decades, the partnership between WHO and Bayer AG has effectively supported global initiatives to combat neglected tropical diseases. Driven by its mission of “Health for All, Hunger for None,” Bayer is reaffirming its commitment to addressing the urgent needs of millions of affected patients through the manufacturing and donation of essential medicines. Bayer remains dedicated to ensuring sustainable actions aimed at eliminating sleeping sickness and controlling Chagas disease and taeniasis,” said Claus Runge, Chief Health Equity Officer and Global Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Internal Engagement, Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Bayer’s donation of nifurtimox, initiated in 2004, has boosted access to treatment for Chagas disease. Notably, since 2020, the registration and donation of a new paediatric formulation of nifurtimox (30 mg) with an improved disintegrated tablet has facilitated uptake of treatment among children. A key priority in the coming years will be to strengthen early diagnosis and treatment to ensure timely care for all patients.

Bayer’s support will also be crucial to achieve the roadmap’s target of eliminating congenital Chagas disease: with vector transmission greatly reduced in Latin America, congenital transmission has become a source of global concern. Nevertheless, mother-to-child transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi can be successfully interrupted by systematically screening and treating girls and women of childbearing age, and conducting awareness campaigns among communities at risk.

Additional areas supported by Bayer AG during 2025-2030 include strengthening health information systems to improve surveillance, monitoring and evaluation activities; fostering digital innovation including mapping disease distribution; and supporting working groups, networks and patients’ associations dedicated to Chagas disease.

Since 2020, Bayer AG has donated niclosamide to treat taeniasis (caused by Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm). As of October 2025, over one million tablets of niclosamide have been delivered to several countries for individual treatment or mass drug administration to high-risk communities. Treatment of T solium taeniasis is key to decrease the risk of cysticercosis and notably neurocysticercosis, a condition characterised by the development of cysts in the brain, which is the major cause of preventable epilepsy in many low- and middle-income countries. Between 2020 and 2024, Bayer AG’s donation of niclosamide was complemented by that of praziquantel, an alternative medicine for the treatment of taeniasis.

In 2025-2030, Bayer AG’s support will focus on high-burden countries to scale up disease control through a One Health approach integrating T solium activities with other human, animal or environmental health programmes.

NTDs are a diverse group of 21 diseases or disease groups that are widespread in the world’s poorest regions, where water safety, sanitation and access to healthcare are substandard.

In addition to being responsible for widespread mortality, morbidity and disability, NTDs are responsible for an important economic and societal burden. They cost developing communities billions of dollars annually in direct health costs, lost productivity, reduced socioeconomic and educational attainment, and the effects of disability and stigmatisation.

Over the decades, medicines donated by pharmaceutical partners have helped WHO and health ministries to scale up global control and elimination efforts. Such interventions have enabled a reduction in the number of people requiring treatment against NTDs by nearly 700 million between 2010 and 2023. At present, 58 countries have eliminated at least one NTD, with multiple countries having eliminated two, three or four diseases.