The World Health Organization (WHO) is shining a light on the progress made in the fight against leprosy, an ancient disease that has plagued humanity for centuries. In anticipation of World Leprosy Day on January 25th, WHO is renewing its commitment to a leprosy-free world, highlighting the crucial role of partnerships in achieving this goal. But here's where it gets controversial: while significant strides have been made, the battle against leprosy is far from over, and there are still many challenges to overcome.
Leprosy, caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, is one of the oldest diseases known to man. It predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, and without treatment, can lead to progressive and permanent disabilities, as well as social stigma and isolation. However, the disease can be cured with multidrug therapy (MDT).
The good news is that efforts to eliminate leprosy have been successful in many areas. Out of the 188 countries, areas, or territories that submitted data in 2024, 55 reported zero cases. But the battle is far from won. In the same year, 172,717 new cases were detected worldwide and reported to WHO. This is where the role of partners, such as pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, becomes crucial.
Since 2000, WHO has collaborated with Novartis to provide MDT and clofazimine, free of cost, to all leprosy patients worldwide. This partnership remains one of the most sustained pharmaceutical donation programs in global health. Marking 25 years of partnership, WHO and Novartis have extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an additional 5 years (2026-2030). The extension ensures the continued supply of MDT and includes funding for the procurement and distribution of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
"The unwavering commitment of partners like Novartis over the past quarter-century has been foundational to the progress made against leprosy," said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Care. "Their steadfast support in ensuring free access to treatment has helped transform millions of lives and moved us closer to a world free from this ancient disease. This enduring collaboration exemplifies the power of global solidarity in health - a reminder that, together, we can overcome even the oldest and most entrenched health challenges when science, equity, and partnership align."
The availability of free MDT has made it possible to cure the disease, prevent disabilities, mitigate stigma, and enable affected individuals to continue working and leading normal lives. Additionally, clofazimine has ensured the treatment of lepra reactions, which are characterized by sudden, severe inflammatory episodes, leading to disabilities if left untreated.
"Leprosy is one of the oldest infectious diseases known to humanity, and combatting it has been part of our company's history since discovering the first effective cure," said Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President of Global Health at Novartis. "Over the last 25 years, we have reached millions of patients together with WHO, and we are committed to going further to pursue our vision of a world free of leprosy."
However, while significant progress has been made, sustaining and building on this momentum requires political commitment, community engagement, and continued collaboration and partnership. The theme for this year's World Leprosy Day is 'Leprosy is curable, the real challenge is stigma'.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Mr. Yohei Sasakawa's work as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. He said, 'One of the most stubborn challenges that I encounter on my travels is the social stigma attached to leprosy, which can be more problematic than the disease itself, and which can persist beyond the end of treatment. This is particularly true for people who have been left with residual disabilities as a result of leprosy. They may face various forms of discrimination, including forced divorce, lost educational opportunities, and unfair dismissal. Even after being cured, they endure the unending pain of social exclusion.'
As leprosy is one of the target diseases under the broader umbrella of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), this work also supports the unified global effort towards a world free of NTDs. Learn more about the collective action and join our campaign on World NTD Day 2026 on January 30th.
