30 January 2012 - US pharma major Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) said on Monday they have sealed a four-year joint research and non-exclusive licensing deal to conduct research on new treatments for neglected tropical diseases.

The diseases in the agreement include Chagas disease, helminth infections, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness. The parties will focus initial efforts on discovering and advancing new antimicrobial agents with activity against these neglected diseases.

Intellectual property (IP) related to the contract, existing relevant Abbott IP and new IP generated by this collaboration will be subject to a principle of non-exclusive licensing to address neglected diseases in endemic countries. Under the deal, Abbott has the right of first negotiation to become DNDi's development and distribution collaborator. DNDi is free to engage other partners if Abbott chooses not to serve as a development and distribution partner.