Also important is that the combination of albendazole and ivermectin allows to treat, simultaneously, the 5 species of helminths considered by WHO as STH. Albendazole is quite effective against three of these species, but only moderately effective against a fourth (Trichuris trichiura), and very inefective (as a 400mg monotherapy) for the fifth (Strongyloides stercoralis). Treating with both medicines at once is more effective against all five, and dramatically increases the effectiveness against T trichiura and S Stercoralis. Being able to do so with a single pill, instead of 3, 4 or even more, as is common now, also drastically simplifies logistics of the MDA campaigns.
The clinical trial we're supporting was a phase II/III pivotal clinical trial done in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Kenya, and has gathered enough evidence to support sending the medicine to regulatory agencies like the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Ghana FDA.
We would also like to imply, though softly, that this medicine could also potentially be used and be of help to treat other NTDs like scabies or lymphatic filariasis.
In case it helps you, please have the first draft of the script we have managed to write. Please choose what can be the best appro
In case it helps you, please have the first draft of the script we have managed to write. Please choose what can be the best approach to improving it. Either give us another one, or lets go paragraph by paragraph or whatever you see fit.
The first draft:
More than 1.5 billion people around the world are infected by intestinal parasitic worms. Namely, by five species that are called soil-transmitted helminths. These parasites cause debilitating infections, leading to pain, intestinal distress, and anaemia. Their impact goes beyond health, disrupting the education and professional development of those affected due to frequent illness.
Although the World Health Organization has a dedicated plan to fight these diseases, one of its pillars relies on the administration of existing anthelmintic drugs, which are failing to reach control goals.
That’s why researchers from Africa and Europe joined forces in the STOP projects, where they have developed a new treatment option that has just passed a phase III clinical trial. The results, published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, demonstrate its safety and superior efficacy compared to current treatments.
Their innovative approach consists of the combination of two already existing anthelmintic drugs into a single, fixed-dose tablet.
This co-formulation is not only effective against all five STH species, but using different mechanisms of action, it minimises the risk of resistance emerging. It doesn’t require measurements or equipment to be administered, simplifying intake. And it is being developed to have low manufacturing costs, making it accessible to endemic countries.
The results from this trial mark a steppingstone in over 10 years of previous work. And the final step is already underway: a phase IV clinical trial, testing large-scale safety and implementation scenarios of the co-formulation.
This new effective therapeutic tool aims to be integrated into the WHO control program, help reach its goals, and even be of use for other neglected tropical diseases beyond STH.
borja
2 months ago
