Translational research
Bridging drug discovery and clinical development
Translational research
Bridging drug discovery and clinical development
The translational research stage of R&D takes promising drug candidates from drug discovery to early clinical development.
We work with our partners to assess the safety and tolerability of new drug candidates, develop drug formulations, establish dosing requirements, and study the risk of potential interactions with other drugs, before moving to Phase I studies in healthy human volunteers. A promising compound that successfully passes these early drug development steps can then advance to Phase II proof-of-concept studies in a limited number of patients to assess whether the drug has the desired effect on the target disease.
Our translational research projects
Proving treatment efficacy remains a challenge. The lack of a reliable test to monitor treatment efficacy is a major hurdle for developing new drugs for Chagas disease. We are supporting research and raising awareness of the need for ‘biomarkers’ that can be measured with quick and accurate tests.
Boosting immune system’s response to fight infection. We are working to produce an ‘immunomodulator’ that can stimulate the innate immune system to fight the parasitic infection that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis.
New effective, field-adapted drug. Together with Bayer Pharma, we are working to develop emodepside as a new treatment for river blindness with the potential to kill both adult filarial worms and their embryonic larvae, which can cause debilitating and disfiguring clinical symptoms.
An improved formulation of a key medicine. We are developing a formulation of an HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis medicine that can be taken orally or through a nasogastric tube. The medicine only needs to be taken twice a day rather than four times a day.
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