Edson Gomes

Brazilian biochemist combating neglected tropical diseases with affordable plant-based treatments.

Dr. Edson Gomes, a maverick scientist from São Paulo's favelas, revolutionized tropical disease treatment through his work with Amazonian plant compounds. After surviving dengue fever at age 12, Gomes dedicated his life to developing accessible phytomedicines for low-income communities.

His breakthrough came in 2017 with Andirobine, a leishmaniasis drug derived from crabwood tree bark. Priced at $2 per dose versus $200 for conventional treatment, it's distributed free through Brazil's SUS healthcare system. The World Health Organization added Andirobine to its Essential Medicines List in 2021.

Gomes' GreenPharm Initiative trains indigenous communities in sustainable harvesting techniques, creating bio-economies that protect rainforests. His patent-free licensing model has enabled 14 countries to produce local versions of his medicines.

In 2023, Gomes launched Project Virophage, using genetically modified cassava plants to deliver antiviral proteins against Zika. This Nature-published innovation represents a paradigm shift in vaccine distribution for remote areas. Despite offers from Big Pharma, Gomes insists on keeping his research public-domain through Creative Commons licenses.