Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Persistent URL of this record https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3754172

In Collections

This item can be found in the following collections:

Caldwell, N.; Afshar, R.; Baragaña, B.; Bustinduy, A.L.; Caffrey, C.R.; Collins, J.J.; ... ; Gilbert, I.H. (2023)

Perspective on schistosomiasis drug discovery: highlights from a schistosomiasis drug discovery workshop at Wellcome Collection, London, September 2022

Article / Letter to editor
In September 2022, the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee, UK, organised an international meeting at the Wellcome Collection in London to explore the current clinical situation and challenges associated with treating schistosomiasis. The aim of this meeting was to discuss the need for new treatments in view of the clinical situation and to ascertain what the key requirements would be for any potential new anti-schistosomals. This information will be essential to inform ongoing drug discovery efforts for schistosomiasis. We also discussed the potential drug discovery pathway and associated criteria for progressing compounds to the clinic. To date, praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug available to treat all species causing schistosomiasis, but it is often unable to completely clear parasites from an infected patient, partially due to its inact i v i t y against juvenile worms. PZQ-mediated mass drug administration campaigns conducted in endemic areas (e.g., sub-Saharan...Show moreIn September 2022, the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee, UK, organised an international meeting at the Wellcome Collection in London to explore the current clinical situation and challenges associated with treating schistosomiasis. The aim of this meeting was to discuss the need for new treatments in view of the clinical situation and to ascertain what the key requirements would be for any potential new anti-schistosomals. This information will be essential to inform ongoing drug discovery efforts for schistosomiasis. We also discussed the potential drug discovery pathway and associated criteria for progressing compounds to the clinic. To date, praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug available to treat all species causing schistosomiasis, but it is often unable to completely clear parasites from an infected patient, partially due to its inact i v i t y against juvenile worms. PZQ-mediated mass drug administration campaigns conducted in endemic areas (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, where schistosomiasis is primarily prevalent) have contributed to reducing the burden of disease but wi l l not eliminate the disease as a public health problem. The potential for Schistosoma to develop resistance towards PZQ , as the sole treatment available, could become a concern. Consequently, new anthelmintic medications are urgently needed, and this Perspective aims to capture some of the learnings from our discussions on the key criteria for new treatments.Show less
schistosomiasis
Schistosoma
neglected tropical disease
infectious disease
drug discovery
therapeutic s
anthelmintic s
target product profile
All authors
Caldwell, N.; Afshar, R.; Baragaña, B.; Bustinduy, A.L.; Caffrey, C.R.; Collins, J.J.; Fusco, D.; Garba, A.; Gardner, M.; Gomes, M.; Hoffmann, K.F.; Hsieh, M.; N.C. lo; McNamara, C.W.; Nono, J.K.; Padalino, G.; Read, K.D.; Roestenberg, M.; Spangenberg, T.; Specht, S.; Gilbert, I.H.
Date
2023-04-21
Journal
ACS Infectious Diseases
Volume
9
Issue
5
Pages
1046 - 1055
DOI
doi:10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00081
Link
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00081