Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) announced that its animation “Leave No One Behind－Disease of Neglected People” which features activities for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) has received the Animation Award at the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD) Festival 2021.

ISNTD Festival is an annual event aiming to increase awareness about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and this year marks the 5th ISNTD Festival. At the ISNTD Festival Awards, which accompanies this festival, outstanding projects will be selected and awarded in each of the seven categories of animation, app, art, awareness campaign, mass media, photo, and video, related to NTDs.

The award-winning animation "Leave No One Behind－Disease of Neglected People" features the 10-year LF elimination activities of Eisai and its global partners which have been implemented since Eisai signed a joint statement with the World Health Organization (WHO) for the LF elimination in 2010. The animation highlights the feelings, thoughts and sufferings of patients which were perceived through activities for free provision of medicines and disease awareness. In addition, the animation highlights tremendous efforts of global partners including Eisai dedicated for drug delivery to remote regions, disease awareness activities for residents in endemic regions and support for mass drug administrations (MDAs), in order to make necessary medicines available to those who need them.

Please visit to watch “Leave No One Behind－Disease of Neglected People” animation

Eisai has been manufacturing diethylcarbamazine (DEC tablets), one of the LF treatments, at its Vizag Plant in India and has been providing to LF endemic countries for free since 2013. We have provided 2.01 billion DEC tablets to 28 countries and contributed to LF elimination in Egypt, Kiribati, Thailand and Sri Lanka. We have also been collaborating with global partners on disease awareness for LF and support for implementation of MDAs necessary for the LF elimination. Eisai announced to continue providing DEC tablets for free to endemic countries that need DEC until LF is eliminated in these countries.

By accelerating the development of new medicines for infectious diseases and NTDs including LF which are endemic in developing and emerging countries via leveraging partnerships, together with implementing activities to improve access to medicines including raising disease awareness locally and implementing price setting models that take income levels into account, Eisai strives to further contribute to increasing the benefits for patients and their families worldwide.

[Notes to editors]

1. About Lymphatic Filariasis

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) transmitted to humans via carrier mosquitoes. LF causes lymphatic dysfunction and can lead to the swelling of body parts such as legs, and cause severe pain, permanent disability and social stigma associated with disfiguring visible manifestations. As a result, patients suffer mental, social and financial losses. It is estimated that 893 million people worldwide, mainly those in developing countries, are exposed to the risk of LF. Elimination of LF is possible by stopping the spread of the infection through mass drug administrations (MDAs) of three types of LF treatments including DEC tablets.

2. About Eisai's Commitment to Improving Global Access to Medicines including LF Elimination Program

In line with its hhc philosophy, Eisai is committed to improving global access to medicines over the medium-to-long term through partnership strategies that involve working with governments, international organizations, private entities and non-profit organizations.

In November 2010, Eisai agreed to supply a total of 2.2 billion DEC tablets to WHO free of charge by 2020, as there was a global shortage of high-quality DEC tablets for use in MDAs. In 2012, Eisai became the only Japanese company to participate in the London Declaration, a coordinated effort to eliminate 10 NTDs and the largest public-private partnership of its kind in the field of global health. At the London Declaration’s fifth anniversary event held in April 2017, Eisai announced its plan to supply DEC tablets continuously beyond 2020, until LF is eliminated in all endemic countries where DEC tablets are needed.

Eisai has supplied 2.01 billion tablets to 28 countries through the WHO’s elimination program (as of March 2021). Furthermore, in order to support the smooth implementation of the WHO’s MDA programs, Eisai is engaging in initiatives to raise public awareness of LF and to support implementation of MDAs in endemic countries. Staff members of Eisai Group cooperate with the relevant representatives in endemic countries to eliminate LF as early as possible. Eisai staff also prepare and distribute leaflets in the local languages on the prevention and treatment of LF.

In addition to the above-mentioned initiatives, Eisai is moving ahead with new drug development projects targeting malaria and NTDs such as mycetoma and LF, based on partnerships with international non-profit organizations such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), as well as research organizations such as Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Kentucky, and the Broad Institute.

Furthermore, Eisai co-established the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), Japan's first public–private partnership to advance development of new health technologies for the developing world, is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Re:Search Consortium, an international joint enterprise for the development of treatments for NTDs, malaria and tuberculosis led by WIPO, is a signatory to the Tuberculosis Drug Accelerator (TBDA) partnership, and is participating in the Access Accelerated initiative to promote prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases.

For further information on Eisai's Access to Medicines initiatives, please visit the Access to Medicines page on the Eisai global website: https://www.eisai.com/sustainability/atm/index.html

3. About The International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases

The International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD), established in 2012, is an independent organization providing a collaborative and multidisciplinary network to highlight the urgency of tackling NTDs as well as engage with a wide range of partners including pharma, academia, creative industries to tackle NTDs.

Each year, the ISNTD organizes the ISNTD Festival which brings together communication, arts, entertainment and science to help complex public health messages reach patients, the public and global health professionals worldwide.

The ISNTD Festival brings together some of the most exciting creative work aiming to tackle complex challenges in tropical and infectious diseases. These projects are entered for consideration as part of the ISNTD Festival Awards. Please visit to discover the Winners of the ISNTD Festival 2021 Awards and their work.