- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Novartis Foundation Showcases Progress In Leprosy Elimination Programs https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/74330?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/74330?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/74330?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Novartis Foundation Showcases Progress In Leprosy Elimination Programs&body=ESG News from Novartis https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/74330?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Health & Healthcare](/CSR-News/health-healthcare) # Novartis Foundation Showcases Progress In Leprosy Elimination Programs ##### 19th International Leprosy Congress Sep 15, 2016 2:15 AM ET Campaign: [Novartis Foundation Leprosy Elimination Initiative](/node/60902) Basel, September 15, 2016 /3BL Media/ – The Novartis Foundation and its partners will highlight progress in efforts toward accelerating the elimination of leprosy at the 19th International Leprosy Congress (ILC) held in Beijing, China from September 18 – 21, 2016. Updates in 11 abstracts on four Novartis Foundation-supported leprosy initiatives in low- and middle-income countries will be showcased in scientific sessions. Abstracts presented at the ILC demonstrate progress on the key programs under the Novartis Foundation strategy toward zero transmission of leprosy. The strategy was launched in 2014 to prioritize early detection and treatment, contact tracing and preventative treatment, strengthening of surveillance systems to become action-oriented and developing tools for faster and earlier diagnosis. “The ILC is a great opportunity to present results of our leprosy strategy gaining momentum, share learnings, and highlight the research we support on diagnostic development and epidemiological modelling, which can contribute to the design of future strategies to finally make leprosy history. I am particularly pleased to share emerging evidence on our multi-country Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (LPEP) program, which at mid-point is already demonstrating the feasibility of integrating its strategy of contact tracing and preventative therapy in national control programs,” said Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation. Novartis Foundation-sponsored projects presented at ILC scientific sessions: - Cambodia Retrospective Active Case Finding project: recommendations for targeting high-priority districts in phase 2 (Abstract ILC4.2-052/8.5, September 19, 13:30 CST) - Accuracy of the Leprosy Alert Response Network and Surveillance (LEARNS) System of the Novartis Foundation and Philippine Department of Health - National Leprosy Control Program (ILC4.2-025/8.3, September 19, 13:30 CST) - Criteria for a developing a PCR test (Abstract 47.1, September 20, 10:30 CST) - Emerging evidence from the Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis project (Abstract ILC4.3-012/17.1, September 20, 13:30 CST) - An interim report on the operational feasibility of leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, India (Abstract ILC4.3-014/17.2, September 20, 13:30 CST) - Comparison of implementation aspects of Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in India, Nepal and Indonesia (Abstract ILC4.3-022/17.3, September 20, 13:30 CST) - Negotiating and implementing the Leprosy Post-Exposure Prophylaxis project in the centralized health service of the Union of Myanmar (Abstract ILC4.3-011/17.4, September 20, 13:30 CST) - LPEP and implementation experiences from Nepal (Abstract ILC4.3-009/17.5, September 20, 13:30 CST) - Modeling the long term impact of additional interventions on the new case detection rate of leprosy in three endemic countries and regions (Abstract ILC4.3-007/17.6, September 20, 13:30 CST) - Delivering leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis in a remote area: a case of Lingat Village, Maluku, Indonesia (Abstract ILC4.3-017/25.6, September 20, 15:30 CST) - Distribution of leprosy post-exposure prophylaxis through extended contact-tracing with self-screening approach in Sumenep District, Indonesia (Abstract ILC4.3-018/25.8, September 20, 15:30 CST) “This year we commemorate 30 years of Novartis Foundation commitment in the fight against leprosy,” reflected Ann Aerts; “therefore the ILC is timely to review the progress we are making together with our partners toward zero transmission of leprosy. It is also a fitting time to look ahead and envision a coalition to bring the anti-leprosy community together to go the last mile in the fight against leprosy.” Novartis and the Novartis Foundation have a long-term commitment to leprosy treatment and control. Since 2000, Novartis has donated more than 56 million blister packs valued at approximately USD 90 million through the World Health Organization (WHO), helping to treat more than six million leprosy patients worldwide. **Disclaimer** This press release contains expressed or implied forward-looking statements, including statements that can be identified by terminology such as “emerging,” “recommendation,” “initiatives,” “will,” “strategy,” “can,” “strategies,” “commitment,” “look ahead,” “envision,” “long-term,” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Group regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such statements. These expectations could be affected by, among other things, risks and factors referred to in the Risk Factors section of Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update it in the future. **About the Novartis Foundation** The Novartis Foundation is a philanthropic organization pioneering innovative healthcare models that can have a transformational impact on the health of the poorest populations. We work hand-in-hand with our local and global partners to catalyze scalable and sustainable healthcare models to improve access and health outcomes, and to accelerate efforts to eliminate leprosy and malaria by focusing on interventions that aim to interrupt transmission. Everything we do is grounded in evidence and innovation, and our work is a continuous cycle of evaluation, adaptation and application. In 2015, the operational budget for the foundation was CHF 12 million and our programs reached 4.5 million people. For more information, please visit: [www.novartisfoundation.org](http://www.novartisfoundation.org/) [www.youtube.com/novartisfoundation](http://www.youtube.com/novartisfoundation) Novartis Foundation is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @NovartisFDN at https://twitter.com/NovartisFDN **About Novartis** Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit [http://www.novartis.com](http://www.novartis.com/). Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at For Novartis multimedia content, please visit [www.novartis.com/news/media-library](http://www.novartis.com/news/media-library) For questions about the site or required registration, please contact **Novartis Media Relations** Central media line: +41 61 324 2200 E-mail: Patrick Barth Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 696 6273 (direct) +41 79 732 0801 (mobile) Kiara Barnes Novartis Foundation +41 61 696 8181 (direct) +41 79 724 7037 (mobile) **Novartis Investor Relations** Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944 E-mail: **Central** **North America** Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448 Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Sloan Pavsner +1 212 830 2417 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425 Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188 [![Novartis logo](/sites/default/files/Clients/novartis_logo_012919.jpg)](/profiles/novartis) ### More from Novartis ###### [Energize – A First-of-Its-Kind Program to Increase Access to Renewable Energy for Pharmaceutical Suppliers](/news/energize-first-its-kind-program-increase-access-renewable-energy-pharmaceutical-suppliers) Nov 4, 2021 6:00 AM ET ###### [Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture Report Positive Results for Phase 2b Study of Novel Ganaplacide/Lumefantrine Combination in Children With Malaria](/news/novartis-and-medicines-malaria-venture-report-positive-results-phase-2b-study-novel) Sep 29, 2021 3:00 PM ET ###### [Together Against Child Mortality: Novartis and Save the Children Launch Health Project in the Slums of Nairobi](/news/together-against-child-mortality-novartis-and-save-children-launch-health-project-slums-nairobi) Aug 2, 2021 9:00 AM ET ###### [Novartis Pledges 10-year Commitment With Morehouse School of Medicine, 26 Historically Black Colleges, Universities, Medical Schools and Other Leading Organizations to Co-create Effective, Measurable Solutions for Health Equity](/news/novartis-pledges-10-year-commitment-morehouse-school-medicine-26-historically-black) Jul 20, 2021 8:15 AM ET ###### [Novartis and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Join Forces to Advance Novartis Global Health Efforts](/news/novartis-and-hewlett-packard-enterprise-join-forces-advance-novartis-global-health-efforts) Jun 23, 2021 12:10 PM ET ###### [Novartis Reaches Milestone Delivery of 1 Billion Courses of Antimalarial Treatment](/news/novartis-reaches-milestone-delivery-1-billion-courses-antimalarial-treatment) May 18, 2021 2:15 AM ET ###### [Novartis Inaugurates Innovative Watershed Project in India to Increase Water Availability](/news/novartis-inaugurates-innovative-watershed-project-india-increase-water-availability) Mar 22, 2021 10:30 AM ET ###### [Novartis and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Collaborate to Discover and Develop an Accessible in Vivo Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease](/news/novartis-and-bill-melinda-gates-foundation-collaborate-discover-and-develop-accessible-vivo) Feb 17, 2021 1:15 AM ET