Novartis is committed to reimagining the fight against Chagas Disease and advocating for an integrated, end-to-end care approach.

Chagas disease is a major public health challenge. It affects approximately 6 million people1, mainly in Latin America. Less than 1% of affected individuals receive proper treatment2.

For the first time, the global community is preparing to celebrate April, 14 as the first World Chagas Disease Day. One of the aims is to raise the visibility and public awareness of people with Chagas disease and the resources needed for the prevention, control or elimination of the disease3.

Chagas disease is one of four Novartis global health flagship programs (together with leprosy, malaria and sickle cell disease). Our work in Chagas disease exemplifies our commitment to apply the Novartis Access Principles in our global health work, adopting an integrated end-to-end approach to disease management, leveraging R&D to address unmet needs, improving affordability through novel pricing and business models and strengthening health systems.

A holistic approach to managing the disease

Chagas disease starts as a parasitic and can end as a noncommunicable disease; hence, it requires a holistic care model. Healthcare systems have focused on the acute phase to control the vector but it is during the chronic phase that organ damage complications drive morbidity and mortality – leading to cardiac disorders in up to 30% of patients1.

Against this background, Novartis started the first clinical study in people with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy – which causes the majority of deaths and disability from the disease – to assess treatment options for these underserved patients.

Complementing ongoing efforts to fight the disease

In 2019, we marked our commitment to help fight the disease by joining the Global Chagas Disease Coalition, an alliance to increase awareness and promote access to diagnosis and treatment. Through a collaboration with the World Heart Federation, an end-to-end roadmap? was developed to address Chagas disease, with recommendations for policymakers and healthcare professionals.

see & read more on
https://www.novartis.com/news/world-chagas-disease-day-2020

for pictures and more.