title: Potential drug development candidates for human soil-transmitted helminthiases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few drugs are available for soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH); the benzimidazoles albendazole and mebendazole are the only drugs being used for preventive chemotherapy as they can be given in one single dose with no weight adjustment. While generally safe and effective in reducing intensity of infection, they are contra-indicated in first-trimester pregnancy and have suboptimal efficacy against Trichuris trichiura. In addition, drug resistance is a threat. It is therefore important to find alternatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the literature and the animal health marketed products and pipeline for potential drug development candidates. Recently registered veterinary products offer advantages in that they have undergone extensive and rigorous animal testing, thus reducing the risk, cost and time to approval for human trials. For selected compounds, we retrieved and summarised publicly available information (through US Freedom of Information (FoI) statements, European Public Assessment Reports (EPAR) and published literature). Concomitantly, we developed a target product profile (TPP) against which the products were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The paper summarizes the general findings including various classes of compounds, and more specific information on two veterinary anthelmintics (monepantel, emodepside) and nitazoxanide, an antiprotozoal drug, compiled from the EMA EPAR and FDA registration files.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few of the compounds already approved for use in human or animal medicine qualify for development track decision. Fast-tracking to approval for human studies may be possible for veterinary compounds like emodepside and monepantel, but additional information remains to be acquired before an informed decision can be made.
authors.affiliation: UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme on Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olliaro
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuesel
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Don
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keiser
mesh_terms: D000607:Aminoacetonitrile / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047630:Depsipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D047630:Depsipeptides; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; D000607:Aminoacetonitrile; C533978:monepantel; C041747:nitazoxanide; C468987:emodepside