Towards a World Free of the Burden of Lymphatic Filariasis - Eisai’s Efforts to Combat Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) transmitted to humans via carrier mosquitoes. It is estimated that approximately 882 million people in 44 countries, mainly in tropical and subtropical developing countries, are at risk of infection. When a person is infected, it causes serious damage to the lymphatic system. In addition to causing physical disabilities, such as elephantiasis (where the legs and/or other body parts swell to resemble those of an elephant), it can also lead to social stigma due to the disfiguring visible manifestations. In Japan, LF has been reported as early as the Heian period(794–1185) and was endemic until the 1960s, especially in Kyushu and Okinawa. A government-initiated collaborative campaign to eliminate the disease nationwide was launched in the 1960s and by the end of the 1970s, Japan became the first country to successfully eliminate this disease from its shores completely.

LF patient

Elimination of NTDs including LF is one of the targets (3.3) of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The World Health Organization (WHO) conducts mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns in endemic countries to eliminate LF. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablets, one of the LF treatments, was in short supply globally, and this posed a serious obstacle to the elimination of LF. Furthermore, activities in endemic areas such as disease awareness for residents and sanitation improvement are also critical to promote LF elimination.

To relieve anxieties of people suffering from LF, Eisai signed a joint statement with the WHO in 2010, in which we committed to the free provision of DEC tablets. In 2012, Eisai participated in the London Declaration, the largest international public-private partnership to fight against NTDs, as the only Japanese company. In 2022, we endorsed the Kigali Declaration, the successor of the London Declaration, and pledged to further strengthen multi-sectoral partnerships and continue support to eliminate NTDs.

Signing ceremony （Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO and Dr. Haruo Naito, CEO of Eisai）

Based on the agreement with the WHO, Eisai has been developing and manufacturing high-quality DEC tablets at our Vizag Plant in India. Through the WHO, we have provided 2.16 billion tablets to 30 LF-endemic countries (as of October 2023). Of the 19 countries where LF elimination has been achieved, we have contributed to the elimination by supplying DEC tablets to 5 countries (as of October 2023). Furthermore, Eisai has also worked on quantifying the social impact of the DEC tablets we provide. We calculated that the free provision of 1.6 billion tablets to 25 countries from 2014 through 2018 lead to the creation of approximately 7 trillion yen (approximately 160 billion yen per year) in social impact.

(For more information on impact-weighted accounting of free provision of DEC tablets, please click here)

Vizag Plant in India

Distribution status of DEC tablets

In addition to free provision of LF treatment, Eisai has participated in a public-private partnership with the WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and two other pharmaceutical companies to provide financial support for the provision of LF diagnostic kits, which are used to evaluate the success of MDA campaigns in LF elimination. To eliminate LF, it’s crucial to ensure as many people as possible participate in MDA campaigns and take the medicines. Together with partners including the governments of endemic countries, Eisai has been engaged in various activities to facilitate LF elimination such as support for MDA, disease awareness for residents and sanitation improvement.

Eisai staff educating children about LF (India)

Visiting villagers with local government and healthcare professionals to observe drug administration (Myanmar)

Installing water tanks to supply clean water (Kenya)

Open drain cleaning activity to prevent mosquito breeding (India)

（Please click here to read more activities for LF elimination）

Eisai strives to provide 3.9 billion DEC tablets free of charge and to implement a holistic approach to support the achievement of SDG goal 3 and the WHO’s NTD Roadmap 2021-2030 for LF elimination by 2030. Through these initiatives, we aim to complete MDA in 30 countries by 2030, aligned with the targets set in the WHO’s NTD Roadmap, and to create approximately 280 billion yen per year in social impact.

Eisai strives to achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities as well as create long-term corporate value. We position our efforts towards global health including elimination of LF as an important business domain guided by our human health care (hhc) concept. When we spoke with LF patients, they fervently told us that they wanted us to eliminate the disease for their children and their future and hoped we would develop effective treatments. Elimination activities are still at the halfway point, and we must pick up the pace even more. With our partners, we will continue to work toward a world free of the burden of LF.

Animation video introducing 10 years of Eisai’s efforts to combat LF

Please click here to watch the animation video introducing 10 years of Eisai’s efforts to combat LF

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