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We’re investigating a new treatment for this debilitating disease of the lymph system
Lymphatic filariasis (also known as elephantiasis) is a painful and debilitating disease that affects the lymph system. It is caused by a microscopic worm – Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and B. timori – transmitted to people through the bite of infected mosquitos. Inside the human body, the parasitic worms travel through the lymph system, often undetected, eventually causing abnormal enlargement in the arms, legs and genitalia.
People are suffering from lymphatic filariasis in tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world, particularly in Africa, south and east Asia and some Pacific islands.
860M
people live in endemic areas
50
People in at least 50 countries are threatened by the disease
Source:
World Health Organization. Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A road map for neglected tropical diseases.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) Results.
72M
people were infected as of 2019
Current community-directed treatments for lymphatic filariasis include albendazole, which stops the worms from absorbing sugar, alone or in combination with ivermectin (an anti-parasitic drug) or diethylcarbamazine (which inhibits the metabolism of a specific omega-6 fatty acid in the parasites), depending on the presence of co-endemic infections.
The treatment we are studying for lymphatic filariasis is moxidectin, an anti-microfilarial medicine. We are collaborating in a Phase 2/3 lymphatic filariasis study being conducted in Côte d'Ivoire by the Death to Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis (DOLF) project run by Washington University, St. Louis, USA, with the Regional Hospital of Agboville (Côte d'Ivoire) and Case Western Reserve University (USA) as collaborators. This study was initiated in Q3 2020 and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of moxidectin in combination with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine. Preliminary results from this study were presented at the 2022 American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA (Read more here).
A paediatric dose-finding study, a phase 3b trial comparing efficacy and safety of annual and biannual moxidectin or ivermectin treatment and mathematical modelling of moxidectin and ivermectin based elimination strategies to support country policy decisions.
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MDGH respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which our office is located, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Medicines Development for Global Health Limited.
Level 1, 18 Kavanagh Street Southbank Victoria 3006 Australia.
ABN: 79 116 977 523
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