AWZ1066S, a highly specific anti-<i>Wolbachia</i> drug candidate for a short-course treatment of filariasis.

ABSTRACT: Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are two neglected tropical diseases that together affect ∼157 million people and inflict severe disability. Both diseases are caused by parasitic filarial nematodes with elimination efforts constrained by the lack of a safe drug that can kill the adult filaria (macrofilaricide). Previous proof-of-concept human trials have demonstrated that depleting >90% of the essential nematode endosymbiont bacterium, Wolbachia, using antibiotics, can lead to permanent sterilization of adult female parasites and a safe macrofilaricidal outcome. AWZ1066S is a highly specific anti-Wolbachia candidate selected through a lead optimization program focused on balancing efficacy, safety and drug metabolism/pharmacokinetic (DMPK) features of a thienopyrimidin

SUBMITTER: Hong WD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6347715 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature