Out of the Shadows: The Story of DNDi

In a world affected by climate change, conflict, and economic instability, it is always the most vulnerable people that suffer – often from neglected diseases for which there is no cure. Our newest film, Out of the shadows, is about three Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) scientists from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sri Lanka, and follows their work to develop cures for patients who have lived in the shadow for too long.

Filmed to mark DNDi’s 20-year anniversary, Out of the shadows tells the story of how our unique, not-for-profit drug development partnerships have delivered new treatments that have saved millions of lives and put certain diseases, like sleeping sickness, on the pathway to elimination. But the film also shows why these alliances are needed for the next 20 years: both for climate-sensitive diseases like dengue, but also to ensure that even the most neglected patients reap the benefits of today’s AI-powered revolution in drug discovery.

Out of the shadows was shot by the South African film company Scholars, with whom DNDi produced A doctor’s dream, which won the World Health Organization’s inaugural Health for All Film Festival.

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a collaborative, patients' needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development (R&D) organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases.