Global HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Pediatric Excellence), a program of Texas Children’s Hospital, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Direct Relief announced today a donation partnership that will provide access to medications in sub-Saharan Africa—where an overwhelming majority of pediatric cancer and hematology patients do not survive.
Under this partnership, Global HOPE will determine the specific volumes and quantities of medications identified for current patient needs at its clinical sites. Teva will provide essential medications for treating cancer and blood disorders in children to Direct Relief, who will, in turn, ensure the efficient shipping and delivery of the donated medicines in coordination with Global HOPE facilities.
“The success we’ve had in radically changing the course of pediatric cancer and hematology in sub-Saharan Africa is due in large part to our partners and donors who have made our work possible,” said Dr. David Poplack, Director of Global HOPE. “By partnering with a global leader in generic and specialty medicines like Teva along with Direct Relief’s experience in cold chain logistics, we can have an immediate and sustained impact in low- and middle-income countries where increased access to pediatric oncology treatments is desperately needed.”
Teva will initially support the Global HOPE program in Malawi, with the potential to extend access of donated medicines to other Global HOPE sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Teva’s donation of medicines through this partnership will support the treatment plans for almost 95% of all chemotherapy patients. Over the next five years, Global HOPE anticipates diagnosing and treating close to 4,000 new pediatric cancer patients in Malawi.
“This initiative with Global HOPE and Direct Relief can bring medicines to thousands of children with cancer and blood disorders in African countries,” said Amalia Adler-Waxman, VP Social Impact and Responsibility at Teva. “Supporting this critical supply chain along with our partners allows us to facilitate access to pediatric oncology treatments while laying the groundwork for Global HOPE and others to also potentially treat pediatric illnesses beyond cancer and hematologic disorders.”
As an organization with decades of global supply chain and logistics expertise, Direct Relief will play a leading role in the distribution of donated prescriptions product from Teva. Direct Relief’s shipments of donated medicines from Teva will be shipped to one of the designated local Global HOPE-affiliated NGOs in Malawi, Botswana and Uganda.
“Direct Relief is deeply appreciative to Teva and Global HOPE for their leadership and initiative in providing critical treatments to children in Africa and globally,” said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. “Thanks to this collaboration, children who would otherwise be unable to access cancer therapies will be able to receive the treatments they need.”
The partnership was announced for International Childhood Cancer Day. International Childhood Cancer Day is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness and promote an increased appreciation and deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.
