Assessment of Combined Antiparasitic Drugs Praziquantel and Albendazole Versus Albendazole Alone in the Treatment of Active Parenchymal Neurocysticercosis in Tanzania and Zambia

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination albendazole and praziquantel versus albendazole alone in patients affected by neurocysticercosis.

Start Date01 Jun 2024

Sponsor / Collaborator

R-Evolution Worldwide S.r.l.

[+5]

PACTR202402599048090

/ RecruitingPhase 2IIT

Efficacy and safety of pyronaridine/artesunate and pyronaridine/artesunate/praziquantel for treatment of uncomplicated Schistosoma haematobium infection in Gabonese adolescents and children

Start Date01 Sep 2023

Sponsor / Collaborator-

100 Clinical Results associated with Praziquantel

100 Translational Medicine associated with Praziquantel

100 Patents (Medical) associated with Praziquantel

7,156

Literatures (Medical) associated with Praziquantel

01 Apr 2025·INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Safety and efficacy of praziquantel in pregnant women infected with Schistosoma haematobium

Letter

Author: Mischlinger, Johannes ; Holtfreter, Martha ; Schleenvoigt, Benjamin T ; Amoako, Yaw Ampem ; Okwu, Dearie Glory ; Bohnes, Tina

01 Mar 2025·Radiology case reports

Spinal schistosomiasis masquerading as spinal cord tumor in a 12-year-old male adolescent: A case report

Article

Author: Mekonnen, Eden ; Negussie, Michael A ; Adane, Leul ; Arega, Gashaw

Spinal schistosomiasis, a rare manifestation of schistosomal infection, can closely mimic the presentation of spinal cord tumors and pose significant diagnostic challenges. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy from northern Ethiopia who experienced progressive back pain, tingling sensations in his lower extremities, and intermittent fever. Initially referred with a presumptive diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma for pediatric hematology-oncology evaluation, his marked eosinophilia and history of swimming in local rivers raised suspicion for spinal schistosomiasis. Upon review by a neuroradiologist, an MRI revealed a long-segment expansion of the spinal cord from T10 to L2, showing heterogenous enhancement on T1-weighted postcontrast images and hyperintense signals on T2-weighted images. Furthermore, the patient's Schistosoma mansoni IgG titer was elevated, strongly supporting the diagnosis. Treatment was initiated with praziquantel and corticosteroids, leading to a notable improvement in his symptoms. This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections like schistosomiasis in regions where they are endemic, particularly when spinal pathologies may resemble neoplastic conditions. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to preventing long-term neurological damage.

01 Mar 2025·INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

From mapping to elimination: A comprehensive overview of Rwanda's schistosomiasis program

Review

Author: Ursin, Bayisenge ; Karen, Palacio ; Aimable, Mbituyumuremyi ; Mbonigaba, Jean Bosco ; Ladislas, Nshimiyimana ; Johannes, Waltz ; Eugene, Ruberanziza ; Alison, Ower

OBJECTIVES:

Schistosomiasis (SCH) remains a public health challenge in Rwanda despite ongoing interventions. This paper provides an overview of Rwanda's SCH journey, highlighting progress made through mass drug administration (MDA), diagnostic advancements, and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.

METHODS:

Since 2014, the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POCCCA) test has been introduced alongside Kato-Katz (KK), improving mapping accuracy and detecting low-intensity infections. Geographic information systems further identified hotspots. The program expanded MDA coverage, integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, and adopted One Health (OH) approaches to address socio-environmental drivers.

RESULTS:

More sensitive diagnostics enabled targeted interventions. Expanded MDA and tailored Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) strengthened SCH control. Key future priorities include piloting interruption of transmission in select areas, enhancing WASH measures, implementing focal snail control, and piloting pediatric praziquantel for treatment of SCH in preschool-aged children (PSAC).

CONCLUSIONS:

Rwanda's data-driven and integrated strategies, coupled with OH collaboration, exemplify a robust model for eliminating SCH as a public health problem. These efforts, aligned with the WHO 2030 targets, position Rwanda as a leader in SCH elimination and offer a replicable framework for other endemic regions.

News (Medical) associated with Praziquantel

05 Mar 2025

·www.prnewswire.com

GHIT-backed Innovation Achieves Landmark: New Treatment Option for Schistosomiasis Reaches Preschool-Aged Children

TOKYO, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund is today announcing a significant milestone: the first administration of arpraziquantel to preschool-aged children in Uganda, in an implementation science setting. This new pediatric treatment for schistosomiasis, developed by the GHIT-funded Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, is being introduced through the Consortium's ADOPT program, which focuses on integrating arpraziquantel into existing healthcare platforms in countries where schistosomiasis is prevalent. This achievement marks GHIT's first supported innovation to reach people in need since its establishment in 2013. "This isn't just a scientific achievement," said Osamu Kunii, CEO of the GHIT Fund. "It's a testament to the transformative power of global collaboration. By bringing together a diverse array of partners, each steadfastly contributing their unique expertise and sustaining momentum throughout a decade-long marathon of innovation to shepherd this breakthrough (from bench to bedside), arpraziquantel's development journey has unlocked solutions that once seemed impossible." Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, affects 250 million people globally, including an estimated 50 million preschool-aged children, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Left untreated, this poverty-related parasitic disease can lead to anemia, stunted growth, and impaired learning ability, as well as chronic inflammation of the organs, which can be fatal. Until now, a child-friendly treatment specifically tailored for preschool-aged children was not available, leaving millions of preschoolers at risk. Early treatment of schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children is a crucial investment in public health and societal wellbeing. By intervening at this critical stage, we not only aim to shield young bodies from severe complications like organ damage and cognitive impairment but also alleviate the long-term burden on healthcare systems and hopefully better livelihoods. The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium developed arpraziquantel to address this gap. Japan's Astellas Pharma Inc., as a founding member of the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, played a pivotal role by utilizing its proprietary technology to lead arpraziquantel's initial formulation development, resulting in water dispersible, climate-stable, child-friendly tablets with acceptable taste. The formulation was optimized by Merck in Germany; the manufacturing process served to produce clinical trial supply from Merck and Farmanguinhos in Brazil. Current manufacturing is done by Farmanguinhos; future large-scale production by Universal Corporation Ltd. in Kenya is planned in and for Africa. "Japanese innovation is a cornerstone of arpraziquantel's development," Dr. Kunii added, "embodying GHIT Fund's core mission: harnessing the power of international partnerships to revolutionize global health." GHIT Fund has supported arpraziquantel's development journey throughout the overall development program spanning over 10 years. GHIT has and continues to support the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium in developing their access plans, with a particular focus on exploring new and sustainable access mechanisms. GHIT is also co-funding, with EDCTP, implementation via the Consortium's ADOPT Program, which is assessing different implementation platforms in three countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda and Kenya. In addition, GHIT is coordinating, together with the consortium, in-country readiness preparations for introduction of arpraziquantel in additional countries such as Senegal and Tanzania. "Understanding what needs to be in place at country level in terms of policy framework, regulatory framework, implementation models and domestic resource mobilization is critical to the successful uptake and roll out of arpraziquantel. We hope the lessons learnt from these countries will inform other countries," said Dr Isaac Chikwanha, Senior Director of Access at the GHIT Fund. Arpraziquantel received European Medicines Agency's positive scientific opinion in December 2023 and was included into the World Health Organization (WHO)'s List of Prequalified Medicines in May 2024. Inclusion in the WHO's Essential Medicines List is expected in 2025. 1. About schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia) is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases worldwide and a very important one in terms of public health burden and economic impact. It is a poverty-related disease that is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions where large sections of the population have no access to clean water. Flatworms transmit the disease and people become infected with the parasite through contact with freshwater, for example, while working, swimming, fishing, or washing their clothes. The minuscule larvae penetrate human skin, enter the blood vessels, and attack internal organs. The infection rate is particularly high among children. Schistosomiasis is a chronic condition and is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 2. About arpraziquantel The current standard of care treatment for schistosomiasis is praziquantel. Praziquantel is already approved, and suitable for school-aged children and adults. Extending the range of options for the treatment of schistosomiasis, arpraziquantel is tailored for preschool-aged children against Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium. Tested in clinical development, under the responsibility of Merck, arpraziquantel is a 150mg dispersible tablet. The prototype of its pediatric formulation was developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan, and further optimized by Merck in Germany. In developing arpraziquantel, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium established a pediatric drug development program, divided into four major steps: preclinical development, clinical development, registration, and access. All details can be found on the Consortium website. 3. About the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium is an international public-private partnership that aims to reduce the global disease burden of schistosomiasis and improve child health by addressing the medical needs of preschool-aged children. Its mission has been to develop, register, and provide access to a suitable pediatric drug for treating schistosomiasis in children 3 months to 6 years of age. For more information, and to see an overview of all Consortium partners, visit the Consortium website: The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership (PPP) fund that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. For more information, contact: Katy Lenard at +1-301-280-5719 or [email protected] Eriko Mugitani at +81-36441-2032 or [email protected] SOURCE GHIT Fund WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

05 Jun 2024

·www.sciencedaily.com

Universal bitter blocker could help patients take their medicines as prescribed

Strong bitterness is the main reason why people all over the world, especially children, avoid taking their medicines, putting their health, and sometimes, their lives at risk. Now, a group of scientists has identified the first temporary, universal taste blocker that works in people. Many people, especially children and the elderly, have difficulty swallowing pills. Liquid forms of many medicines taste extremely bitter and are often rejected. Put simply, strong bitterness is the main reason why people all over the world, especially children, avoid taking their medicines, putting their health, and sometimes, their lives at risk. Now, a group of scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center identified the first temporary, universal taste blocker that works in people. Their findings appear in the British Journal of Pharmacology. "Remarkably, and unlike our experience with blockers of bitter taste receptors, the taste-nerve blocker we tested worked for every subject and every bitter compound we tested," said first author Linda J. Flammer, PhD, Monell Senior Research Associate and Director of the Corporate Partners Program. "I have never seen this before." Until now, efforts to block bitterness in foods and medicines have focused on finding blockers for bitter taste receptors on the tongue. Because different medications activate distinct sets of bitter taste receptors, targeting specific receptors may only suppress bitterness for certain, but not all, bitter-tasting compounds. "There is a clear need to develop bitter blockers that are able to suppress the bitterness of many medications," said co-author Carol Christensen, PhD, Monell Alumnus Faculty Member. "Although humans have 25 different bitter receptors, our ongoing research suggests only a handful of bitter receptors may be responsible for most of the bitterness of medicines." Taste cells in the mouth that express the TAS2R family of taste receptors are stimulated by sweet, bitter, and savory compounds, and transmit signals to nerve fibers by releasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a cell's main source of energy. In turn, ATP activates a receptor called P2X2/P2X3 on the receiving nerve cells. These nerves send information to the brain about the taste of foods and medications. The team used an inhibitor of P2X2/P2X3 receptors, called AF-353, to block taste-nerve transmission and reduce the bitterness signal caused by medications and other taste compounds. Several blockers of P2X2/P2X3 receptors have been identified, with some tested in clinical trials to treat chronic cough; however, a side effect in these trials was taste disturbance. The Monell team capitalized on the "side effect" of these compounds to create an oral treatment that enhances the palatability of medicines. A key finding of the study is that rinsing the mouth with AF-353 significantly reduced the bitterness of two important medicines that treat common chronic diseases: Praziquantel for parasites and Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) for hepatitis B and HIV. "AF-353 is the first universal bitter taste blocker that has been identified," said Monell Faculty Member Peihua Jiang, PhD. "In addition to bitter taste, it also affects savory, salt, sweet, and sour tastes. However, AF-353 only blocks taste. Other oral sensations like the tingle from carbonation were not affected." The team conducted both human sensory taste testing and mouse behavioral experiments to determine the breadth, strength, and duration of the blocking effects. The results of the human and rodent studies were similar in the breadth and duration of AF-353's action. The topical application of AF-353 directly into the mouth may improve compliance of many important medications, especially those that are life-saving for children in developing countries. "In people, the blocking effect lasted 60 to 90 minutes, when their taste was restored to normal," said Flammer. "We are now looking for taste blockers that act faster and allow taste to return to normal sooner," said Jiang.orted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-037008 and INV-042630). The behavioral work was performed at the Monell Behavioral and Physiological Phenotyping Core, which is supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIDCD Core Grant 1P30DC011735-01. Research infrastructure was provided in part by NIH Grant G20OD020296.

Clinical Result

02 Apr 2024

·www.fiercepharma.com

Merck KGaA names winner of storytelling competition to boost schistosomiasis awareness in Ethiopia

In addition to supplying praziquantel, Merck KGaA’s four-pronged efforts toward “#MakingSchistoHistory” comprise developing new treatments for the disease, implementing health education and water safety initiatives and forming partnerships to bolster all of that work. After nearly two decades spent working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to supply billions of praziquantel tablets to help treat schistosomiasis, Merck KGaA has recently tacked on an additional awareness-raising component to its efforts to eliminate the parasitic disease also known as bilharzia. That project has been dubbed the Bilharzia Storytelling Lab, and it wrapped up its third iteration late last month, the drugmaker announced Tuesday. The latest lab took place in Ethiopia, following previous installments in Kenya and Rwanda. For this year’s lab, local participants were invited to a five-day workshop in Addis Ababa, during which they learned more about schistosomiasis and received instruction on storytelling from local and international experts. From there, the participants worked with health-focused and other nonprofit organizations to develop storytelling-based solutions that could help raise awareness about the disease in their communities. A panel of judges was tasked with selecting the best solution, which Merck will help implement throughout Ethiopia. The winning solution this year—which was awarded a grand prize of 10,000 euros—uses multimedia participatory theater to improve awareness of schistosomiasis, specifically targeting young men working in sugar factories. “We have seen great pitches today and it wasn’t easy to pick only one. In the end, we decided on Team Buna because it is an innovative and locally applicable solution, which is also scalable to surrounding communities,” Johannes Waltz, head of the Merck Schistosomiasis Elimination Program, said in a statement after judging was complete. The previous two winners included a card game that could educate young children about the disease through play and a school notebook that included information about disease prevention for both children and their caregivers, according to Merck. Schistosomiasis infections occur when the skin is exposed to parasites in bodies of water. After infection, parasite eggs that aren’t passed out of the body may become trapped within tissues, resulting in immune reactions and organ damage, per a WHO fact sheet. The organization has placed schistosomiasis in its group of neglected tropical diseases, as it is especially prevalent in poor communities within tropical and subtropical regions that don’t have ready access to clean water. The WHO estimates that at least 90% of the approximately 250 million people requiring treatment for the disease live in Africa. Since 2007, Merck KGaA has been working with the WHO to distribute praziquantel tablets, the recommended treatment for the disease, with efforts focused mainly on sub-Saharan Africa. Merck said in this week’s announcement that it provides the organization with up to 250 million tablets per year, for a total donation to date of 2 billion tablets, which have been used to treat around 800 million people. In addition to supplying praziquantel, Merck’s four-pronged efforts toward “#MakingSchistoHistory” comprise developing new treatments for the disease, implementing health education and water safety initiatives and forming partnerships to bolster all of that work.

100 Deals associated with Praziquantel

External Link

KEGG	Wiki	ATC	Drug Bank
D00471	Praziquantel	P02BA01	DB01058

R&D Status

Approved

10 top approved records.

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Indication	Country/Location	Organization	Date
Clonorchiasis	Japan	Bayer Yakuhin Ltd.	20 Sep 1988
Paragonimiasis	Japan	Bayer Yakuhin Ltd.	20 Sep 1988
Helminthiasis	China	Hunan Er-Kang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.	01 Jan 1985
Trematode Infections	United States	Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	29 Dec 1982

Developing

10 top R&D records.

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Indication	Highest Phase	Country/Location	Organization	Date
Genital Diseases, Female	Phase 3	Madagascar	Merck Serono International SA	03 Sep 2019
Schistosomiasis	Phase 3	Madagascar	Merck Serono International SA	03 Sep 2019
Schistosomiasis Haematobia	Phase 3	Egypt	Pharco Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	01 Dec 2011
Schistosomiasis Mansoni	Phase 3	Egypt	Pharco Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	01 Dec 2011

Clinical Result

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Phase

Evaluation

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Study	Phase	Population	Analyzed Enrollment	Group	Results	Evaluation	Publication Date


NCT03845140 (CTgov)	Phase 3	Schistosomiasis Mansoni	288	L-PZQ ODT 50 mg/kg (Cohort 1a: 4 to 6 Years L-PZQ ODT 50 mg/kg)	osepsgyqiu = lwxrslogyq zhvzfdjcgf (xtoyprsgto, cdhtewkcww - ftsdgenosa) View more	-	21 Mar 2024
				Biltricide® (Cohort 1b: 4 to 6 Years Biltricide® 40 mg/kg)	osepsgyqiu = piztjbbghs zhvzfdjcgf (xtoyprsgto, vnysfeerut - boyoojthxk) View more
NCT03893097 (SchistoSAM, Pubmed \| Nat Med) Manual	Phase 3	Schistosomiasis	718	Praziquantel	qdjwamubeu(ilzaiyzrvp) = aopskjiuic yqpuyipnyl (mvzmzjtvgy ) View more	Non-inferior	01 Jan 2024
				Artesunate-mefloquine	qdjwamubeu(ilzaiyzrvp) = qmmhebqrqf yqpuyipnyl (mvzmzjtvgy ) View more
NCT04635553 (Pubmed \| BMC Infect Dis)	Not Applicable	Schistosomiasis Haematobia	777	praziquantel (Children from Mbane village)	mwqwbyezxu(giinblyitu) = umrihjkznn gokkzvcxht (ngkwgtdvnz ) View more	-	29 Dec 2022
				praziquantel (Children from Dioundou and Khodit villages)	mwqwbyezxu(giinblyitu) = wutcwxppuw gokkzvcxht (ngkwgtdvnz ) View more
NCT02868385 (RePST trial \| RePST, Pubmed \| PLoS Negl Trop Dis)	Phase 3	Schistosomiasis Mansoni	167	praziquantel (Standard treatment group)	vjosmduyzr(lrqecdvfpz) = bzypdljkrs buwoqkudzx (clrxzsvdku, 32 - 59)	-	22 Dec 2022
				praziquantel (Intense treatment group)	vjosmduyzr(lrqecdvfpz) = anrtnujpkg buwoqkudzx (clrxzsvdku, 66 - 87)
NCT03845140 (PipelineReview) Manual	Phase 3	Schistosomiasis	-	Praziquantel	mdztmuqtue(zsuuovwqyt) = High efficacy was observed with cure rates close to or above 90% for S. mansoni (at a dose of 50 mg/kg) and S. haematobium (at a dose of 60 mg/kg). sgwbavtjor (hphoguaibc ) View more	Positive	16 Nov 2021
NCT04314037 (CTgov)	Phase 1	-	36	Cesol (Cesol First Administration)	eqdgzafemk(kxtihzrxrp) = jawlhzyayc ewhjqubnfj (tztruumohh, 118.3) View more	-	13 Aug 2021
				Cesol (Cesol Second Administration)	eqdgzafemk(kxtihzrxrp) = gidmjbbcwv ewhjqubnfj (tztruumohh, 129.1) View more
NCT02868385 (RePST, Pubmed \| PLoS Negl Trop Dis)	Phase 3	Schistosomiasis Mansoni	-	Single dose of PZQ	yozgmnngqn(dtbdpbaoft) = ujfrkimotc efuqhessfl (sckwgcotca, 31 - 52) View more	-	20 Mar 2020
				Four repeated doses of PZQ	yozgmnngqn(dtbdpbaoft) = dctndjfzcz efuqhessfl (sckwgcotca, 75 - 92) View more
NCT02806232 (CTgov)	Phase 2	Schistosomiasis Mansoni	444	Biltricide (racemate praziquantel) oral tablets (Part 1, Cohort 1: Biltricide (Racemate Praziquantel) 20 mg/kg)	tbtmwalefv = wmvbsboqtc bkerlfrfxc (ovtumbyevt, yxqbafdpil - oykiukukqv) View more	-	20 Nov 2019
				Biltricide (racemate praziquantel) oral tablets (Part 1, Cohort 2: Biltricide (Racemate Praziquantel) 40 mg/kg)	tbtmwalefv = nvpvyiepiv bkerlfrfxc (ovtumbyevt, sdwnggynvi - bjoqjudmgo) View more
ISRCTN15280205 (Pubmed \| Lancet Glob Health)	Phase 2	Schistosomiasis Mansoni	-	20 mg/kg praziquantel	dzhmltoxbc(zfdgqhxgzf) = pomhjydrhk mpdqhzpzyu (wpxznpeqpb, 44.8 - 77.5)	-	01 Jul 2017
				40 mg/kg praziquantel	dzhmltoxbc(zfdgqhxgzf) = kjtiwuozet mpdqhzpzyu (wpxznpeqpb, 54.8 - 85.8)

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