WRITTEN QUESTION E-1062/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 April 2001)

Subject: Delays in large-scale protection against the parasite disease bilharzia because the pharmaceuticals industry does not regard a drug as profitable

1. Is the Commission aware that many thousands of deaths are caused every year in Africa not just by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria control of which is one of the Commission's concerns but also by the tropical disease bilharzia which is caused by the minuscule schistosoma flatworm parasite, which lives in fresh water and water snails, laying eggs in human blood vessels which affect the bladder, intestines and liver, resulting in many people dying within 10 years?

2. Is the Commission also aware that there is no simple pill or vaccine available for bilharzia, which occurs on a large scale amongst the inhabitants of some African countries, although a pill called Praziquantel (Biltricide) is available for returning European tourists affected by bilharzia after bathing or drinking?

3. Can the Commission confirm that in 1991 researchers Tendler (parasitologist) and Simpson (molecular biologist) discovered a new drug, R-SM 14, which should be suitable in vaccine form for large-scale use, and that research has also been carried out by the World Health Organisation but that so far no pharmaceutical firm has been willing to produce a vaccine because the purchasing power in the countries where there are epidemics of bilharzia is low and therefore no profit can be made?

4. Does the Commission agree that, following previous successful campaigns against smallpox and polio using vaccination, many human lives at risk or already damaged could be saved if public health took precedence over commercial considerations?

5. What contribution does the Commission think it can make to encouraging a substantial European input for a mass vaccination programme aimed at combating and ending the unnecessary epidemics of bilharzia in the Third World?

Source: Swedish television documentary broadcast on TV 1 in the Netherlands (23 February 2001), Netwerk current affairs programme.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The Commission agrees that bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is important in terms of socio-economic and public health in tropical and subtropical areas. Despite the progress in control, the disease still remains endemic in 76 developing countries where over 20 million people are currently estimated to be infected; 200 000 dying every year.

Given the difficulties in sustaining large-scale specific programmes in Africa, the core of the current strategy against bilharzia disease consists of a simple and effective control package (by means of drug treatment) which can be implemented through existing health and educational services and provision of safe water. The Community, therefore, supports bilharzia control in the context of its existing assistance for health sectors in developing countries.

After extensive research efforts, where funding from Community research programmes was crucially important to set-up appropriate North-South collaboration and with industry, important progress in vaccine development has been reported. Extensive trials are hampered now by the profitability requirements for private industry to undertake such large-scale investments. In this regard, the Commission believes that private industry should be further encouraged to invest in vaccines and medicines in this area.

The recent Communication and Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction(1), highlights the importance for further investments and public private partnerships for public health priorities in developing countries and those could also influence decisions towards development of new drugs and vaccines for bilharzia. Finally, it is worth noting that Praziquantel, the main available drug, is produced extensively locally, an area also targeted strongly supported by Community policy.

(1) COM(2001) 96 final.