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New Anti-Parasitic Pill Shows Promise in Treating Intestinal Worm Infections
A newly developed tablet aimed at treating intestinal worm infections is demonstrating encouraging results in clinical trials. This innovative treatment could potentially aid efforts to eliminate a condition that currently afflicts approximately 1.5 billion individuals worldwide, according to researchers.
The tablet, which comes in a mango flavor, comprises a combination of two established anti-parasitic medications. When used concurrently, these drugs appear to enhance the efficacy of treatment against intestinal worms.
Intestinal worms are transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with soil harboring worm eggs. Infections can lead to severe gastrointestinal issues, malnutrition, and anemia, especially among vulnerable populations.
Researchers indicate that this novel pill could address future challenges related to drug resistance while improving the management of intestinal worm infections on a wider scale. The parasites, classified as soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), include varieties such as whipworm and hookworm, which are prevalent in developing nations with inadequate sanitation.
Children are disproportionately affected by these parasitic infections, and currently, there is no preventive measure other than improved sanitation practices.
A study dubbed “ALIVE,” published in the Lancet, proposes that this new medication could assist the most impacted nations in achieving the targets set by the World Health Organization concerning disease elimination.
The treatment regimen consists of a fixed dosage, either as a single pill or over three consecutive days with multiple tablets.
Collaborative efforts among eight institutions across Europe and Africa suggest this could streamline the process of treating large populations during mass treatment initiatives. “It is easy to administer, as it is one single pill,” states project leader Professor Jose Muñoz.
Moreover, combining two drugs with distinct mechanisms of action may mitigate the risk of developing drug-resistant strains of the parasites, as noted by Prof. Muñoz.
Upon infection, these parasites embed themselves within the host’s digestive system. While albendazole effectively treats certain STH species, there are indications that its effectiveness is waning against others.
A clinical trial that evaluated 1,001 children aged 5-18 in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique revealed that the combination of albendazole and ivermectin was more effective against a wider range of infections. However, the researchers noted that the trial did not yield conclusive evidence regarding the treatment of threadworm.
Professor Hany Elsheikha, a parasitology expert from the University of Nottingham, remarked that the pill could represent a “significant improvement over current treatments” and will be capable of addressing multiple parasitic infections. “Challenges exist with existing medications, making this a potentially major addition to treatment options,” he stated.
Yet, he emphasized that while the findings are promising, there are notable gaps in the data. “We are uncertain if the outcomes would be consistent across adults, older individuals, younger children, or populations in different regions,” he added.
The results from the recent trial have been forwarded to regulatory bodies in Europe and Africa, with anticipated decisions arriving in early 2025. In the meantime, recruitment is underway for an additional trial involving 20,000 participants in Kenya and Ghana.
According to Dr. Stella Kepha from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, who participated in the study, the pill shows “great potential for improving the health of affected communities,” but she acknowledged that significant work remains to ensure widespread deployment of the treatment.
Source
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