Paediatric first for Chagas disease
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The first ever paediatric formulation of benznidazole, the most common treatment for Chagas disease, should be available by the end of next year. Furthermore, through a partnership between Brazil's state owned Pharmaceutical Laboratory of Pernambuco (Lafepe) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative(DNDi), the drug will be distributed throughout countries where Chagas disease is endemic at cost-price. Lafepe will develop and produce the drug and do all the necessary paperwork for the drug to be approved while the initiative will help register the drug with government authorities, develop distribution strategies for endemic countries and assist in the Pan-American Health Organisation pre-qualification of the product. Children are currently being treated with fractions of tablets formulated for adults, which significantly increases the risk of errors that can affect the safety, efficiency and quality of the medicine as well as compliance. Chagas disease is endemic across central and South America, as well as Mexico.