The forthcoming Phase III clinical trial of the Pediatric Praziquantel (PZQ) Consortium Formulation program will be conducted in Kenya, in addition to the Ivory Coast.

The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) has achieved a lot since its foundation in 2002. It has helped to establish programs against parasitic worm infections, including schistosomiasis, in countries where none previously existed, and now supports the delivery of millions of treatments each year.

Through a series of meetings and events, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium presented the latest achievements of the program and aligned further on next steps.

Latest clinical data will be presented by the Lead of the Consortium Pediatric Praziquantel program at the 67th ASTMH (American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene) Annual Meeting on October 28-November 1, 2018 (New Orleans, US).

In September 2018, members of the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium published a paper on the extrapolation of praziquantel pharmacokinetics to a pediatric patient population in the peer-reviewed Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics.

While considerable progress has been made to control schistosomiasis, challenges remain as there is no vaccine available and the risk for drug resistance is increasing.

Initiation of the Phase III development program by the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium announced at the WHA Schistosomiasis luncheon in Geneva on May 22nd, 2018

Complementary experience offered by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (UFHB) in conducting clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa will be instrumental for the success of the Consortium’s phase III program.

On 8 December, the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT) announced that they will be co-funding the Phase III clinical study conducted by the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium.

In 2017, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium continued its dialogue on NTDs, and on schistosomiasis in particular, by engaging with stakeholders and experts through presentations and participations at international conferences. 

I am pleased to inform you that the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium made a strong finish to 2017 and is ready to start 2018 with motivation and enthusiasm.  

UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and schistosomiasis control partners met in Madagascar to determine ways to combine efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis. 

Image: TIBA in South Africa 

On 12 December, the date of universal health coverage day, the Japan Times featured an interview with BT Slingsby, CEO of the Tokyo-based Global Health Innovative Technology Fund. The pediatric formulation of praziquantel, developed by the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, was referred to as one of the products in the pipeline and among the closest to hitting the market. 

The first half of 2017 has been a time of ups and downs for the Pediatric Praziquantel (PZQ) Consortium. In our previous newsletter, we informed you of the start of our Phase II clinical trial in Ivory Coast.