04/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - During the 13th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly held in Wiesbaden on 25-28 June, the Assembly organised a workshop in cooperation with Sanofi-Aventis devoted to access to medicines for neglected diseases. The workshop was opened by Heinz-Werner Meier, chairman of the management board of Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, who was quick to point out that Sanofi-Aventis has perfected a new combination therapy for the treatment of malaria, developed specially for the poorest countries and known by the abbreviation ASAQ. Available meanwhile in many countries of the southern hemisphere, it is offered at a therapy price of less than one dollar for three days' treatment. It is not patented, which means every drug manufacturer that wants to support the fight against malaria in a similar manner may copy it. In the context of a partnership with WHO, the laboratory has allocated €20 million for an extended programme against sleeping sickness but also to combat leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcer and Chagas disease. The commitment to provide access to medicines for the poorest populations also concerns vaccines, in partnership with the vaccine division of Sanofi-Aventis whose president, Jacques Cholat, recalled that the company supplied almost 490 million doses of vaccines to international health organisations such as WHO and UNICEF in 2006. (oj)