Article
Infectious Diseases
Aatreyee M. Das, Nakul Chitnis, Christian Burri, Daniel H. Paris, Swati Patel, Simon E. F. Spencer, Erick M. Miaka, M. Soledad Castano
Summary: Gambiense human African trypanosomiasis has been declining due to increased screening, diagnosis and treatment. The new oral treatment fexinidazole is now part of WHO guidelines, easing patient access but potentially reducing adherence. Poor compliance in treatment of stage 1 cases could lead to increased disease transmission, but efforts to improve patient seeking treatment may offset this impact.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miebaka Jamabo, Maduma Mahlalela, Adrienne L. L. Edkins, Aileen Boshoff
Summary: Human African trypanosomiasis, caused by Trypanosoma brucei, is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted control programs, extending the time frame. Vaccine development has been challenging due to antigenic variation and B cell depletion. Control relies on screening and drugs, with fexinidazole being a recent major breakthrough. Diagnosis, compliance, and resistance pose challenges, while ongoing drug discovery and addressing eradication challenges are discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Victor Kande Betu Kumesu, Wilfried Mutombo Kalonji, Clelia Bardonneau, Olaf Valverde Mordt, Digas Ngolo Tete, Severine Blesson, Francois Simon, Sophie Delhomme, Sonja Bernhard, Pathou Nganzobo Ngima, Helene Mahenzi Mbembo, Jean-Pierre Fina Lubaki, Steven Lumeya Vuvu, Willy Kuziena Mindele, Medard Ilunga Wa Kyhi, Guylain Mandula Mokenge, Lewis Kaninda Badibabi, Augustin Kasongo Bonama, Papy Kavunga Lukula, Crispin Lumbala, Bruno Scherrer, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft, Antoine Tarral
Summary: The multicentre clinical trial of oral fexinidazole in pediatric patients with gambiense human African trypanosomiasis demonstrated that the drug is a safe and effective first-line treatment option across all disease stages.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ipos Ngay Lukusa, Nick Van Reet, Dieudonne Mumba Ngoyi, Erick Mwamba Miaka, Justin Masumu, Pati Patient Pyana, Wilfried Mutombo, Digas Ngolo, Vincent Kobo, Felix Akwaso, Medard Ilunga, Lewis Kaninda, Sylvain Mutanda, Dieudonne Mpoyi Muamba, Olaf Valverde Mordt, Antoine Tarral, Sandra Rembry, Philippe Buscher, Veerle Lejon
Summary: This study confirms the high detection rate of SL-RNA in the blood of Gambiense HAT patients, but a slightly lower detection rate in CSF. There might be some SL-RNA lost during extraction in CSF.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jessica Hidalgo, Juan Fernando Ortiz, Stephanie P. Fabara, Ahmed Eissa-Garces, Dinesh Reddy, Kristina D. Collins, Raghavendra Tirupathi
Summary: Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is mainly caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and transmitted by tsetse flies. Treatment for the second stage has shifted to nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) and fexinidazole, which have shown to be more effective and safe. Despite gastrointestinal complaints with NECT, it has been found to be non-inferior to eflornithine, while fexinidazole is preferred for its convenience and safety.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Danielle Soter do Nascimento Damasio, Patricia Andrade Antunes, Eduardo Burgarelli Lages, Eliane de Morais-Teixeira, Katia Duarte Vital, Valbert Nascimento Cardoso, Simone Odilia Antunes Fernandes, Marta Gontijo Aguiar, Lucas Antonio Miranda Ferreira
Summary: The study developed a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) and evaluated its efficacy in treating visceral leishmaniasis. The findings showed that the SEDDS significantly reduced the parasite burden and did not cause injury to the intestinal mucosa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Vittoria Lutje, Katrin Probyn, Jorge Seixas, Hanna Bergman, Gemma Villanueva
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of current drugs for treating second-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense trypanosomiasis. Oral treatment with fexinidazole is easier to administer but may lead to higher mortality and relapse compared to conventional treatment.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Kuemmerle, Caecilia Schmid, Sonja Bernhard, Victor Kande, Wilfried Mutombo, Medard Ilunga, Ismael Lumpungu, Sylvain Mutanda, Pathou Nganzobo, Digas Ngolo Tete, Mays Kisala, Christian Burri, Severine Blesson, Olaf Valverde Mordt
Summary: NECT treatment for second stage gambiense HAT was effective and well tolerated, showing a clinical cure rate of 94.1% at the 24-month follow-up visit in a multicenter study in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The treatment was found to be suitable for a broad population, including children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and patients with a HAT treatment history.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Victor Kande Betu Ku Mesu, Wilfried Mutombo Kalonji, Clelia Bardonneau, Olaf Valverde Mordt, Digas Ngolo Tete, Severine Blesson, Francois Simon, Sophie Delhomme, Sonja Bernhard, Helene Mahenzi Mbembo, Christian Mpia Moke, Steven Lumeya Vuvu, Junior Mudji E'kitiak, Felix Akwaso Masa, Melchias Mukendi Ilunga, Dieudonne Mpoyi Muamba Nzambi, Tim Mayala Malu, Serge Kapongo Tshilumbwa, Franck Botalema Bolengi, Mathieu Nkieri Matsho, Crispin Lumbala, Bruno Scherrer, Nathalie Strub-Wourgaft, Antoine Tarral
Summary: The study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of fexinidazole in early-stage human African trypanosomiasis, showing that fexinidazole is a valuable first-line treatment option in the early stages of g-HAT, with high treatment success rates and no new safety issues observed.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mohd Imran, Shah Alam Khan, Mohammed Kanan Alshammari, Ashwaq Muiedh Alqahtani, Turkiah Abdullah Alanazi, Mehnaz Kamal, Talha Jawaid, Mohammed M. Ghoneim, Sultan Alshehri, Faiyaz Shakeel
Summary: This study reviews the discovery, development, inventions, and patent literature of fexinidazole (FEX), which has been approved as the first all-oral therapy for Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). The review highlights the potential for further inventions and innovations based on FEX for the treatment of other diseases.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Christian Bailly
Summary: Epalrestat (EPA) is a drug that inhibits aldose reductases and shows potential in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It has been found to have significant anticancer effects in experimental models of liver, colon, and breast cancers, and can enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs. Clinical trials are underway in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daishun Ling
Summary: Self-assembly in nature creates complex structures and is important in drug delivery design. Understanding the behavior of dynamic nanoassembly-based drug delivery systems in biological media and cells is crucial for controlling drug release. Tailor-made drug delivery systems offer potential for precise diagnosis and treatment of diseases, with current challenges and future perspectives outlined.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Christian L. Roth, Anna Zenno
Summary: Hypothalamic obesity is a complex and rare disorder that affects the regulation of energy intake and expenditure, often due to hypothalamic injury. Traditional obesity treatments have limited effectiveness in this condition, highlighting the need for advancements in pharmacotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sonja Bernhard, Marcel Kaiser, Christian Burri, Pascal Maeser
Summary: After a century of impractical and toxic chemotherapy, a new oral cure called Fexinidazole is now available for human African trypanosomiasis. It has been discovered and developed through extensive screening and testing in both cell cultures and animal models, and has shown promising results in clinical trials conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With its safety and effectiveness confirmed, Fexinidazole has been endorsed by the European Medicines Agency and included in the new treatment guidelines issued by the WHO.
Article
Immunology
Napawan Bunpapong, Kamonpan Charoenkul, Chanakarn Nasamran, Ekkapat Chamsai, Kitikhun Udom, Supanat Boonyapisitsopa, Rachod Tantilertcharoen, Sawang Kesdangsakonwut, Navapon Techakriengkrai, Sanipa Suradhat, Roongroje Thanawongnuwech, Alongkorn Amonsin
Summary: During the investigation of an African horse sickness outbreak on a horse farm in northeastern Thailand, whole-genome sequencing revealed that the viruses were of serotype 1 and contained unique amino acids, indicating a single virus introduction to Thailand.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lori Ferrins, Michael P. Pollastri
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2018)
Correction
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jennifer L. Woodring, Kelly A. Bachovchin, Kimberly G. Brady, Mitchell F. Gallerstein, Jessey Erath, Scott Tanghe, Susan E. Leed, Ana Rodriguez, Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, Richard J. Sciotti, Michael P. Pollastri
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Sabrina Absalon, Karin Blomqvist, Rachel M. Rudlaff, Travis J. DeLano, Michael P. Pollastri, Jeffrey D. Dvorin
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Naimee Mehta, Lori Ferrins, Susan E. Leed, Richard J. Sciotti, Michael P. Pollastri
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kelly A. Bachoychin, Amrita Sharma, Seema Bag, Dana M. Klug, Katherine M. Schneider, Baljinder Singh, Hitesh B. Jalani, Melissa J. Buskes, Naimee Mehta, Scott Tanghe, Jeremiah D. Momper, Richard J. Sciotti, Ana Rodriguez, Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, Michael P. Pollastri, Lori Ferrins
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dana M. Klug, Rosario Diaz-Gonzalez, Guiomar Perez-Moreno, Gloria Ceballos-Perez, Raquel Garcia-Hernandez, Veronica Gomez-Perez, Luis Miguel Ruiz-Perez, Domingo I. Rojas-Barros, Francisco Gamarro, Dolores Gonzalez-Pacanowska, Maria S. Martinez-Martinez, Pilar Manzano, Lori Ferrins, Conor R. Caffrey, Miguel Navarro, Michael P. Pollastri
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Dana M. Klug, Laura Tschiegg, Rosario Diaz, Domingo Rojas-Barros, Guiomar Perez-Moreno, Gloria Ceballos, Raquel Garcia-Hernandez, Maria Santos Martinez-Martinez, Pilar Manzano, Luis Miguel Ruiz, Conor R. Caffrey, Francisco Gamarro, Dolores Gonzalez Pacanowska, Lori Ferrins, Miguel Navarro, Michael P. Pollastri
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Westley F. Tear, Seema Bag, Rosario Diaz-Gonzalez, Gloria Ceballos-Perez, Domingo I. Rojas-Barros, Carlos Cordon-Obras, Guiomar Perez-Moreno, Raquel Garcia-Hernandez, Maria Santos Martinez-Martinez, Luis Miguel Ruiz-Perez, Francisco Gamarro, Dolores Gonzalez Pacanowska, Conor R. Caffrey, Lori Ferrins, Pilar Manzano, Miguel Navarro, Michael P. Pollastri
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Melissa J. Buskes, Monica Clements, Kelly A. Bachovchin, Hitesh B. Jalani, Allison Leonard, Seema Bag, Dana M. Klug, Baljinder Singh, Robert F. Campbell, Richard J. Sciotti, Nelly El-Sakkary, Conor R. Caffrey, Michael P. Pollastri, Lori Ferrins
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Baljinder Singh, Jean A. Bernatchez, Laura-Isobel McCall, Claudia M. Calvet, Jasmin Ackermann, Julia M. Souza, Diane Thomas, Everton M. Silva, Kelly A. Bachovchin, Dana M. Klug, Hitesh B. Jalani, Seema Bag, Melissa J. Buskes, Susan E. Leed, Norma E. Roncal, Erica C. Penn, Jessey Erath, Ana Rodriguez, Richard J. Sciotti, Robert F. Campbell, James McKerrow, Jair L. Siqueira-Neto, Lori Ferrins, Michael P. Pollastri
ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Baljinder Singh, Rosario Diaz-Gonzalez, Gloria Ceballos-Perez, Domingo I. Rojas-Barros, Naresh Gunaganti, Kirsten Gillingwater, Maria Santos Martinez-Martinez, Pilar Manzano, Miguel Navarro, Michael P. Pollastri
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Editorial Material
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
David C. Swinney, Michael P. Pollastri
NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES: DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brady Greene, Erin Burchfield, Kelly Bachovchin, Andrew Spaulding, Paul Guyett, Amrita Sharma, Andrei Purmal, Baljinder Singh, Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, Michael Pollastri
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2018)
Meeting Abstract
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Raeann Dalton, Travis DeLano, Rosario Diaz, John Fisher, Efytchia Mavrogiannaki, Gloria Ceballos, Miguel Navarro, Michael Pollastri
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2018)
