Tokyo,, March 5, 2025 / PRNEWSWIRE / – The World Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT) announces an important step: the first arpraziquel administration to preschool children Ugandain a scientific framework of implementation. This new pediatric treatment of schistosomiasis, developed by the praziquantel pediatric consortium funded by Ghit, is introduced by the consortium adoption program, which focuses on the integration of arpraziquantel into existing health platforms in countries where schistosomiasis is prevalent. This success marks Ghit’s first sustained innovation to reach people in need since his establishment in 2013.
“It’s not just a scientific achievement,” said Osamu KuniiCEO of the Ghit Fund. “It is a testimony to the transformer power of global collaboration. By bringing together a diversified range of partners, each firmly contributing to their unique expertise and their hard momentum throughout an innovation marathon for several decades to shepherd this breakthrough (from the bench to the bedside), the development trip of arpraziquanl was unlocked of the solutions that were impossible.”
Schistosomiasis, or Bilharzia, affects 250 million people worldwide, including around 50 million preschool children, mainly in sub -Saharan Africa. Left untreated, this parasitic disease linked to poverty can lead to anemia, stunted growth and altered learning capacity, as well as chronic inflammation of the organs, which can be fatal. Until now, a treatment adapted to children specially adapted to preschool children has not been available, leaving millions of preschool children at risk.
Early treatment of schistosomiasis in preschool children is a crucial investment in public health and societal well-being. By intervening at this critical stage, we not only aim to protect young bodies from serious complications such as damage to organs and cognitive disorders, but also to alleviate the long-term load of health systems and, hopefully, better livelihoods.
PRAZIQUANTEL consortium pediatrics has developed arpraziquantel to fill this gap. Japanese Astellas Pharma Inc., as a founding member of the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, played a pivotal role using its owner technology to direct the development of initial formulation of Arpraziquintel, which has led to water dispersion tablets and climatic stable with an acceptable taste. The formulation was optimized by Merck in Germany; The manufacturing process was used to produce clinical trials from Merck and Farmanguinhos Brazil. Current manufacturing is carried out by Farmanguinhos; Future large -scale production by Universal Corporation Ltd. Kenya is planned in and for Africa.
“Japanese innovation is the cornerstone of arpraziquantel development,” added Dr. Kunii, “embodying the main mission of the Ghit fund: exploiting the power of international partnerships to revolutionize global health.”
Ghit Fund supported the development course of Arpraziquantel throughout the global development program extending over 10 years. Ghit A and continues to support the praziquantel consortium pediatric in the development of their access plans, with a particular emphasis on the exploration of new and durable access mechanisms. Ghit is also co -financing, with EDCTP, implemented via the consortium adoption program, which assesses various implementation platforms in three countries: Ivory Coast, Ivory, Ivory Coast, Uganda And Kenya. In addition, Ghit coordinates, as well as the consortium, preparations for preparation for the country for the introduction of arpraziquan in additional countries such as Senegal And Tanzania.
“Understanding what must be in place at the country level in terms of political framework, regulatory framework, models of implementation and mobilization of national resources is essential for the successful adoption and the deployment of arpraziquantel. We hope that the lessons learned from these countries will inform other countries,” said Dr. Isolated IsaacSenior director of access to the Ghit fund.
ARPRAZIQUANTEL received the positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency in December 2023 and was included in the list of prequalified drugs of the World Health Organization (WHO) May 2024. Inclusion in the list of essential WHO drugs is expected in 2025.
1 and 1 On schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis (also known as Bilharzia) is one of the most common parasitic diseases in the world and very important in terms of public health and economic impact. It is a poverty -related disease that is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions where large sections of the population do not have access to clean water. The flat worms transmit the disease and people are infected with the parasite by contact with fresh water, for example, while working, swimming, fishing or washing their clothes. The tiny larvae penetrate human skin, enter the blood vessels and attack the internal organs. The infection rate is particularly high in children. Schistosomiasis is a chronic condition and is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 21 neglected tropical diseases (MNT).
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/datail/schistosomiasisisisisisisisisisisis
2 About Arpraziquintel
The current standard of treatment of schistosomiasis is praziquantel. Praziquantel is already approved and adapted to children and adults of school age. Extending the range of options for the treatment of schistosomiasis, ArprazIcantel is suitable for preschool children against Schistosoma Mansoni and Schistosoma hematobium. Tested in clinical developmentUnder the responsibility of Merck, Arpraziquanl is a dispersible tablet of 150 mg. The prototype of its pediatric formulation was developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. JapanAnd still optimized by Merck in Germany.
In the development of arpraziquantel, praziquantel pediatric consortium has established a program for the development of pediatric drugs, divided into four main stages: preclinical development, clinical development, recording and access. All details can be found on the Consortium website.
3 and 3 On the praziquantel consortium pediatric
The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium is a public-private partnership which aims to reduce the global burden on schistosomiasis diseases and to improve the health of children by meeting the medical needs of preschool children. Its mission was to develop, register and give access to a suitable pediatric drug to treat schistosomiasis in children from 3 months to 6 years old. For more information, and to see an overview of all consortium partners, visit the Consortium website:
www.pediatricpraziquanconsortium.org
The Ghit fund is a Japan– International Public-Private Partnership Fund (PPP) based between the government of JapanSeveral pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates, Wellcoma Foundation and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The Ghit fund is investing and manages a R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at combating neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict vulnerable and ill -served populations. In collaboration with Global Partners, the GHIT fund mobilizes Japanese industry, universities and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases.
https://www.ghitfund.org/en
For more information, contact:
Katy Lenard AU + 1-301-280-5719 or klenard@burness.com
Word bethan at + 81-36441-2032 or eriko.mugitani@ghitfund.org
Source Ghit Fund
