DNDi and our partners are working to develop a first-ever cure for millions at risk. Our goal is to advance the development of new drug candidates, complete Phase II clinical trials, and launch a Phase III confirmatory trial that we hope will result in new treatment options – not only for onchocerciasis but also for a range of parasitic worm diseases.
Our progress in 2024 includes:
Translation
Emodepside: By the third quarter of 2024, all enrolled patients had completed treatment and follow-up in part 1 of the Phase II study testing the safety and efficacy of emodepside in treating onchocerciasis, and data and monitoring activities were finalized. Initial findings from part 1 of the Phase II study showed a favourable safety profile and initial proof of concept.
Oxfendazole: The eWHORM partnership started a Phase II proof-of-concept adaptive basket trial of oxfendazole following a favourable review of the trial protocol from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The study is examining the safety and efficacy of oxfendazole in treating multiple helminthic diseases, including onchocerciasis, loiasis, mansonellosis, and soil-transmitted helminthic infections. The innovative design of the trial aims to expedite drug development, improve trial efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and enable swifter access to improved treatments for patients with helminthic infections.
DNDI-6166 (CC6166): Concerns regarding the potential phototoxicity of DNDI-6166 prompted additional studies, which were completed by AbbVie. Study findings are currently being confirmed. Additionally, we have partnered with the Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), which offers an advanced ex vivo imaging model, to refine the efficacy of DNDI-6166 in pre-clinical models and potentially improve understanding of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship. In collaboration with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), we have revised DNDI-6166’s human predicted efficacious dose using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling.
Photo credit: Ley Uwera-DNDi
