by Caldwell N, Afshar R, Baragaña B, Bustinduy AL, Caffrey CR, Collins JJ, Fusco D, Garba A, Gardner M, Gomes M, Hoffmann KF, Hsieh M, Lo NC, McNamara CW, Komguep Nono J, Padalino G, Read KD, Roestenberg M, Spangenberg T, Specht S, Gilbert IH. ACS Infectious Diseases 2023, 9(5):1046-1055. doi: doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00081
Summary: Praziquantel is the only drug currently available to treat all schistosomiasis species, but often does not completely clear parasites from an infected patient. Thus, although mass drug administration campaigns have contributed to reducing the burden of disease, they will not eliminate it as a public health problem. This, and concern about potential development of resistance, means that new anthelmintic medications are urgently needed. In this manuscript, the authors describe some of the learnings from an international meeting, organised by the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee in September 2022, to discuss the need for new treatments and to determine the key requirements for any potential new anti-schistosomals.
