First Preschool-Aged Child Receives Arpraziquantel for the Treatment of Schistosomiasis
- Arpraziquantel was developed by the Pediatric Prazitel Consortium and the first preschooler to arrive in Uganda
- Arpraziquantel solves key treatment gaps in schistosomiasis
- The work of the consortium developing, registering and providing access to Arpraziquantel is an important contribution to eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health issue
Utrecht, Netherlands, March 4, 2025 – African Media Organization (AMA)/ – Children’s praziquantel consortium We are proud to announce that the first preschooler child has been treated by Arpraziquantel, a newly developed pediatric treatment regimen for schistosomiasis, which is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of 21 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDS). This milestone marks an important step in solving one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world.
Solutions to solve critical health challenges
Schistosomiasis, also known as Biharcia, affects about 250 million people worldwide, including about 50 million preschoolers, mainly sub-Saharan Africa. The disease can cause malnutrition, anemia, stunted growth and cognitive impairment. In extreme cases, it can cause chronic organ damage or death. So far, there are no child-friendly therapies tailored to preschoolers, putting millions of preschoolers at risk. according to Who guides To control and eliminate schistosomiasis, children aged two and older should be included, and preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis should be included.
New treatments
The new pediatric treatment option Arpraziquantel is a 150 mg dispersed tablet designed for children between three months and six years of age. It is delicious and easy to give to preschoolers. It is also stable in hot and humid climates and is very suitable for use in local areas.
Arpraziquantel was awarded Positive scientific opinions from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) In December 2023, including Who is the pre-qualified drug list In May 2024, it is expected to be included in the WHO list of essential medicine products in 2025.
“We are honored to reach this critical milestone,” said Peter Steinmann, a public health expert at the Swiss Institute of Tropical and Public Health. Adopt the program. “By meeting the medical needs of preschoolers, our goal is to meet significant treatment gaps that will help fight schistosomiasis.”
Impact on public health
Treating preschoolers is essential to reduce the burden of disease in individuals and public health systems. Early intervention can prevent complications and may reduce the need for expensive medical services in later life. It also improves educational outcomes and long-term productivity, potentially saving costs in affected countries.
“As the first country to introduce Arpraziquantel to children under five, Uganda has reached a historic milestone, expanding opportunities for groups that have never benefited from treatment before,” said Prudence Beinamoryo, Program Manager at Uganda’s Ministry of Health Bilharzia & Worm Control.
Dr. Hilda Kyarisiima, senior medical officer and chief investigator of the Uganda Ministry of Health, added: “The lessons learned in these initial treatments in Uganda will inform the scale of the future and make a significant contribution to achieving the schistosomiasis goals outlined in WHO NTD NTD Roadmap 2030.”
First treatment and next steps
The first treatment was conducted in Uganda and as part of the consortium’s adoption program, the implementation of the program focused on integrating arylquine into existing medical platforms. The treatment was introduced through the country’s NTD mass drug management platform. The overall purpose of the adoption of the study was to prepare for the widespread introduction of Arpraziquantel in the schistosomiae-endemic community. In addition to Uganda, starting with Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania and Senegal, Arpraziquantel will be launched.
Global cooperation and sustainable access
The consortium is working closely with local health ministries and global partners to promote equitable and sustainable access with Arpraziquantel. The treatment will be cost-based in sub-Saharan African countries to support long-term sustainable health outcomes. This effort helps eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem, thus
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), in particular, SDGs 3 (Health and Well-being) and 17 (Partnership of Goals).
Depend on African Media Organization (AMA) Representative children’s praziquantel consortium
For the media:
For more information and interview requests, Daniela Bonora
Project Communications Manager at Lygature,
daniela.benora@lygature.org | info@pediatricPraziquantelconsortium.org
+31 6 48 40 13 04
Comments to editors:
About schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis (also known as Biharcia) is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world and is very important in terms of public health burdens and economic impacts. This is a poverty-related disease that is widespread in tropical and subtropical areas, with most of the population not having access to clean water. Flatworms will get the disease by contacting fresh water, while working, swimming, fishing or washing clothes. Tiny larvae penetrate the human skin, enter blood vessels and attack internal organs. Children have particularly high infection rates. Schistosomiasis is a disease classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the 21 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is estimated that 250 million people were affected Through the disease, approximately 50 million preschool children are included, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
About the Children’s Praziquantel Consortium
Children’s Plazitel Consortium is an international public-private partnership
Aim to reduce the global disease burden of schistosomiasis and to improve children’s health by meeting the medical needs of infected preschool children. Its mission is to develop, register and provide pediatric drugs suitable for the treatment of schistosomiasis in children aged 3 months to 6 years.
The consortium is supported by Merck; in-kind contributions from consortium partners; grants from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (2012), Global Foundation for Innovation in Health (GHIT) (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 & 2020), and the European and Developing Countries Partnership for Clinical Trials (EDCTP), and received a second EU Program (2018 & 2021).
For more information and to view an overview of all consortium partners, visit the consortium website: www
About Arpraziquantel
Current standard of care and treatment for schistosomiasis is Prazitel Whose basic medicine listsuitable for school-age children and adults. To expand the range of options for treating schistosomiasis, Arpraziquantel is tailor-made for preschool children, targeting Manson and Schistosomiasis. Under Merck’s responsibility, tested in clinical development, Arpraziquantel contains the pharmacologically active enantiomers of Praziquantel. This is 150mg loose flakes. The prototype of its pediatric formula was developed by Astellas, Japan and further optimized by Merck in Germany. The manufacturing process is used to produce clinical trial supplies from Merck, Brazil and Farmanguinhos. Future manufacturing plans are carried out by Kenya’s Farmanguinhos and Universal Corporation Ltd., which is preparing for a wide range of local production capacity in Africa and Africa.
During the development of Arpraziquantel, the pediatric praziquantel consortium established pediatrics
The drug development program is divided into four main steps: preclinical development. clinical developregister and access. All details can be found on COnSortium website.
Consortium Partners
- Merck (Germany)
- Astellas Pharma Inc. (Japan)
- Swiss Institute of Tropical and Public Health (Switzerland)
- Cleavage (Netherlands)
- Farmanguinhos (Brazil)
- Unlimit Health (UK)
- Kenya Institute of Medical Sciences (Kenya)
- Félix Houuphouët-Boigny University (Ivory Coast)
- Clinic on the right of Isar, Technical University of Munich (Germany)
- Ministry of Health Côte d’Ivoire (Côte d’Ivoire)
- African Institute of Health and Development (Kenya)
Other collaborators contributed to the mission of the Children’s Praziquantel Alliance:
- School of Public Health, Makerere University (Uganda)
- Kenya Ministry of Health, Vehicles and NTDS (Kenya)
- Uganda Ministry of Health, Vector Hosting and NTDS Control Department (Uganda)
Posts The first aromatic species to be treated with schistosomiasis in preschool children Appear first African media organizations.
