Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and Japanese pharma major Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited have signed an agreement to collaborate in the ‘Lead Optimization Program' aimed at identifying the best compound among aminopyrazole series for developing an innovative drug for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL).
The program is being funded by Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT). GHIT is a public interest incorporated association and a fund for promoting the research and development of pharmaceuticals, vaccinations and the like which are needed in developing countries. GHIT Fund is investing approximately 400 million yen into DNDi for the program.
DNDi and Takeda are working on the lead optimization of the aminopyrazole series. The company indicated that aminopyrazole, in preclinical trials, exhibited good antiparasitic activity and is expected to be highly safe and effective.
DNDi and Takeda consider that short-course oral administration of the drug is effective for the treatment, and therefore it is expected to be a novel drug which will be different from the existing therapeutics for VL.
In addition to this collaboration agreement, DNDi and Takeda entered into partnership agreements such as the ‘Drug discovery booster for accelerating and promoting the discovery of new drugs for treating leishmaniasis and Chagas disease'. DNDi and Takeda aim to contribute towards treating ‘Neglected Tropical Diseases' through these efforts.
