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news.Switzerland-based Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Takeda Pharmaceutical have signed an agreement to collaborate in the 'Lead Optimization Program' to discover the best compound among aminopyrazole series for developing a new treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL).
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The program is being funded by Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT), a public interest incorporated association and a fund for promoting the research and development of pharmaceuticals, vaccinations.
GHIT Fund is investing about JPY400m ($3.2m) into DNDi to carry out the program.
Leishmaniasis is a parasite infection that is transmitted by sandflies and it occurs in more than 90 countries worldwide, mainly in tropical regions.
There are more than 20 Leishmania species which are the pathogens causing the infection and the treatment options are limited.
Leishmaniasis is one of the 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
VL is the most serious form of Leishmaniasis that causes fever, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, and anemia, and if left untreated, it can cause death.
Both the parties are working on the lead optimization of the aminopyrazole series.
In preclinical trials, the aminopyrazole series showed good antiparasitic activity and are expected to be highly safe and effective.
According to DNDi and Takeda, short-course oral administration of the drug is effective for the treatment, and therefore it is expected to be a new drug which will be different from the existing therapeutics for VL.
The two companies have also entered into partnership agreements such as the ‘drug discovery booster for accelerating and promoting the discovery of new drugs for treating leishmaniasis and Chagas disease’.