What we do
The new pediatric treatment
The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium has developed a new pediatric treatment that is suitable for use in preschool-age children (3 months to 6 years). Compared to the standard of care treatment, the new tablet is small, dispersible or orodispersible, has an acceptable taste, and withstands the hot and humid challenges presented by a tropical climate. In addition, it contains only the biologically active R-(-)-PZQ enantiomer and not the S-(+)-PZQ enantiomer additionally present in the racemic mixture.
Soon after its inception, the Consortium collaborated with a panel of experts in schistosomiasis and pediatric formulations to develop a target product profile (TPP) delineating both required and desirable formulation features.
The solution was identified to be an orally dispersible tablet (ODT), administered as a single dose, to treat children aged 3 months to 6 years infected with S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium, the two most prevalent species of schistosomes.
The tablet was developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan, with the process subsequently optimized by Merck in Germany and transferred for manufacturing clinical supply to Farmanguinhos in Brazil.
The new pediatric treatment is manufactured by a robust standard process technology, facilitating its transfer for local production to serve the patients in need in endemic countries.
Find out more about the Development program, and visit our timeline for information on where we stand.