Gilead Sciences and the World Health Organization have expanded their long-standing partnership to accelerate the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, one of the world’s deadliest parasitic diseases.
Under the renewed five-year agreement running from 2026 to 2030, Gilead will donate more than 400,000 vials of AmBisome (liposomal amphotericin B for injection) along with financial and strategic support aimed at improving access to diagnosis and treatment in high-burden countries.
Visceral leishmaniasis is transmitted through infected sandflies and primarily affects vulnerable populations in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease attacks internal organs such as the spleen and liver and can become fatal if left untreated. Global health agencies estimate that around 50,000 to 90,000 new cases occur annually worldwide.
According to the companies, the expanded collaboration will place stronger emphasis on East African nations where the disease burden remains high. Countries expected to benefit from the initiative include India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Yemen, Chad, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Daniel O'Day said the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis is achievable through sustained global commitment and investment. He noted that the strengthened collaboration would help expand access to diagnosis and life-saving treatment while supporting disease elimination efforts in underserved regions.
The WHO highlighted that the partnership has already delivered significant progress in South-East Asia. Since the launch of the elimination programme in 2005, new VL cases in the region have reportedly declined by more than 95%. Bangladesh achieved WHO validation for eliminating visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in 2023.
Jeremy Farrar described the agreement as an example of how strategic collaborations can strengthen healthcare systems and accelerate progress against neglected tropical diseases.
Since beginning its support programme in 2011, Gilead has donated over 1.1 million vials of AmBisome and contributed more than USD 18 million toward global visceral leishmaniasis control activities. With the renewed agreement, the total contribution is expected to exceed 1.5 million vials and USD 27 million in support.
