Newsroom
First Preschool-Aged Child Treated with Our New Pediatric Treatment for Schistosomiasis
The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium has achieved a significant milestone with the first administration of its new pediatric treatment to a preschool-aged child in Uganda. This innovative therapy, designed specifically for children aged three months to six years, addresses a long-standing treatment gap for schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease affecting millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa.
The new pediatric treatment, a 150 mg dispersible tablet, is child-friendly, palatable, and stable in tropical climates, making it ideal for endemic regions. It has received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Prequalified Medicines, with its addition to the WHO Essential Medicines List anticipated in 2025.
The rollout in Uganda is part of the Consortium’s ADOPT program, aimed at integrating the new pediatric treatment into healthcare systems and preparing for its broader introduction across sub-Saharan Africa, starting with Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, and Senegal. This collaborative effort underscores the Consortium’s commitment to equitable and sustainable access to the new treatment, supporting global health goals.
“This milestone marks a critical step in closing the treatment gap for young children and advancing efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem,” stated Peter Steinmann, co-lead of the Consortium's ADOPT program from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
The press release is also available in Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and French.
In the media
This milestone has been featured in various media outlets, highlighting the significance of the new child-friendly schistosomiasis treatment. Coverage includes:
- Devex: Uganda receives first pediatric drug for schistosomiasis. What's next?
- Trouw (in Dutch): Eindelijk een medicijn voor ‘vergeten’ ziekte
- C2W (in Dutch): Bittere pil nu makkelijker te slikken
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1US version available here
