In 2012, Johnson & Johnson joined other pharmaceutical companies and organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to endorse the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). As part of this commitment, companies pledged to donate existing treatments—such as mebendazole, Johnson & Johnson’s medicine for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), or intestinal worm infections—and develop new tools to help combat these infections.
STH infections are among the most common infections around the globe and result from being exposed to contaminated soil, food or water in areas with poor sanitation. Children are particularly vulnerable to the infection, which can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth and even impaired cognitive development.
To help protect kids ages 1 and older against the infection, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson developed a chewable formulation of mebendazole that, when mixed with a small amount of water, turns into a soft mass and is easier for very young children to swallow.
Ten years after the landmark London Declaration, here’s a look at how the company is ensuring that mebendazole is accessible to those who need it.
