biostudies-literatureEllis JRBill and Melinda Gates FoundationGates Foundatione0012624https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12129348biostudies-literatureUnknown19(6)Schistosomiasis affects more than 230 million people worldwide. Control and elimination of this parasitic infection is based on mass drug administration of praziquantel (PZQ), which has been in use for several decades. Because of the limitations of the efficacy of PZQ especially against juvenile worms, and the threat of the emergence of resistance, there is a need to consider alternative formulations or delivery methods, or new drugs that could be more efficacious. We use an individual-based stochastic model of parasite transmission to investigate the effects of possible improvements to drug efficacy. We consider an increase in efficacy compared to PZQ, as well as additional efficacy against the juvenile life stage of schistosome parasites in the human host, and a slow-release formulation PLoS neglected tropical diseasesHow improvements to drug effectiveness impact mass drug administration for control and elimination of schistosomiasis.PMC12129348INV-030046Ellis JRMutono NVasconcelos AAnderson RMThumbi SMHollingsworth TDfalseHow improvements to drug effectiveness impact mass drug administration for control and elimination of schistosomiasis.Schistosomiasis affects more than 230 million people worldwide. Control and elimination of this parasitic infection is based on mass drug administration of praziquantel (PZQ), which has been in use for several decades. Because of the limitations of the efficacy of PZQ especially against juvenile worms, and the threat of the emergence of resistance, there is a need to consider alternative formulations or delivery methods, or new drugs that could be more efficacious. We use an individual-based stochastic model of parasite transmission to investigate the effects of possible improvements to drug efficacy. We consider an increase in efficacy compared to PZQ, as well as additional efficacy against the juvenile life stage of schistosome parasites in the human host, and a slow-release formulation 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jun2026-06-06T13:46:27.029Z2026-05-31T03:10:16.367ZS-EPMC121293484045592510.1371/journal.pntd.0012624