Drug giants tackle 'neglected' effort

La Jolla scientists target malaria, TB

By Thomas Kupper, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 12:02 a.m.

Scientists at the La Jolla laboratories of Novartis are taking part in an unusual assignment for the pharmaceutical industry — finding drugs for some diseases with little or no moneymaking potential.

Using powerful genetic-analysis tools more commonly targeted to cancer and other diseases prevalent in industrialized nations, researchers are studying patterns that underlie malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries and more obscure conditions such as leishmaniasis and Chagas’ disease.

It’s part of an increased effort by the pharmaceutical industry to pursue treatments for “neglectedâ€