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Lymphatic Filariasis

We are an active partner in one of the world's biggest and boldest public health initiatives - the international, World Health Organization (WHO) led effort to rid the world of the disfiguring and disabling tropical disease lymphatic filariasis (LF).

LF, also known as elephantiasis, is a mosquito-transmitted disease that can lead to a chronic swelling of arms, legs, breasts or genitals. It is one of the principal causes of permanent disability globally and currently more than 120 million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are affected.

As part of our commitment to eliminate LF, we have donated over 750 million treatments to stop the transmission of this disease. In 2007, we donated 150 million albendazole tablets to 19 countries. Our aim is to donate as much albendazole as required to treat the one billion people in 83 countries who are at risk.

Egypt is soon to complete its programme to eliminate LF. Preliminary results look impressive and it's anticipated that this ancient disease will soon be eliminated in Egypt.

"This important public-sector collaboration established between WHO and GSK in 1997 has benefited millions of individuals in developing countries" Dr Lee Jong-Wook, Former Director General - WHO.

Our commitment does not stop with the donation of albendazole. We also provide grants and staff expertise to support the coalition-building, planning, training and communication activities of the Global Alliance to Eliminate LF.

We have opened a new $3m manufacturing facility in Cape Town, South Africa to produce our anti-parasitic agent albendazole. The facility will manufacture the tablets for what is on track to be the largest drug donation programme in global pharmaceutical industry history.

The global alliance to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis was officially formed in 2000. We are a founder member of the Alliance that now includes the Ministries of Health of LF-endemic countries and over 40 organisations from public and private sectors, academia, government bodies and non-governmental organisations: all committed to eliminating LF.