Visceral leishmaniasis
Developing safer, simpler treatments for one of the world’s leading parasitic killers
Visceral leishmaniasis
Developing safer, simpler treatments for one of the world’s leading parasitic killers
We delivered seven new treatments using existing drugs to make treatment shorter, safer, and more effective. We are now working to revolutionize the standard of care, advancing an unprecedented portfolio of all-new potential drugs to treat people suffering from all forms of the disease.
Visceral leishmaniasis – also known as kala-azar – causes fever, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, and, if not treated, death. HIV infection increases the severity of the disease, heightening people’s risk of dying from visceral leishmaniasis.
Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) – a complication of visceral leishmaniasis that appears as a rash or skin condition months or years after successful visceral leishmaniasis treatment – is not deadly but can be disfiguring and stigmatizing. In some regions affected by visceral leishmaniasis, treatments are poorly tolerated and lengthy, and can be toxic, painful, and costly.
‘One day, I woke up feeling unwell and very tired. I didn’t go to school that much. I want to be a doctor so that I can eliminate this disease that troubled me so much.’
Young Henry is a champion. To treat visceral leishmaniasis, he had to receive two painful injections every day for 17 days. Henry is now better but still have invisible scars.
What we have achieved
We have delivered seven new treatments using existing drugs to make treatments shorter, safer and more effective.
Positive results from DNDi and partners’ Phase III trial in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda supported WHO’s recommendation of MF+PM for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in eastern Africa – replacing sodium stibogluconate, long known for its painful injections and severe toxicities.
New post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) treatment options developed by DNDi and partners for patients in eastern Africa are included in WHO treatment guidelines following results from our Phase II study in Sudan, which demonstrated the suitability of two safe, effective, shorter combination treatments.
New post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) treatment options developed by DNDi and partners for patients in South Asia are included in WHO treatment guidelines – reducing treatment duration and limiting toxicity concerns using LAmB alone or in combination with a short course of miltefosine.
Safe and shorter treatment for VL patients. In Brazil, DNDi collaborated with partners to implement a large clinical trial to assess a new combination therapy against current treatments. Liposomal amphotericin B was shown to be efficacious and safer for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis patients in Brazil.
New hope for a deadly co-infection. Studies conducted by DNDi, Médecins Sans Frontières, and partners in Ethiopia and India showed that a combination of miltefosine and liposomal amphotericin B had high efficacy rates for treating visceral leishmaniasis in people living with HIV.
Shorter, more affordable treatment. DNDi-led clinical trials showed a combination of sodium stibogluconate (SSG) and paromomycin was safe and as effective as treatment with SSG alone. The more affordable combination is easier for patients and cuts treatment time by nearly half.
What we’re doing for people with visceral leishmaniasis
We are working to deliver better combination treatments and new drugs. Together with our partners, we have built an unprecedented portfolio of six new chemical classes, with different mechanisms of action against Leishmania parasites.
Our goal: entirely new, oral drugs
Our goal is to radically transform therapy by developing patient-friendly, simple oral therapies that are short, affordable, safe and effective in children and adults in all regions. A novel consortium bringing together pharmaceutical industry, academia, research institutes, and PDPs is building an unprecedented portfolio of promising drug candidates.
Visceral leishmaniasis news & resources
Making medical history for neglected patients
We develop urgently needed treatments for neglected patients and ensure they’re affordable, available, and adapted to the communities who need them
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