Cryptosporidiosis Drug Discovery: Opportunities and Challenges.
The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is the second most important diarrheal pathogen causing life-threatening diarrhea in children, which is also associated with long-term growth faltering and cognitive deficiency. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease of public health concern caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. Currently, nitazoxanide is the only approved treatment for cryptosporidium infections. Unfortunately, it has limited efficacy in the most vulnerable patients, thus there is an urgent need for a safe and efficacious cryptosporidiosis drug. In this work, we present our current perspectives on the target product profile for novel cryptosporidiosis therapies and the perceived challenges and possible mitigation plans at different stages in the cryptosporidiosis drug discovery process.
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670.
Ujjini H
UH
Manjunatha
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670.
Alexander T
AT
Chao
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670.
F Joel
FJ
Leong
Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670.
Thierry T
TT
Diagana
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents
Cryptosporidium; cryptosporidiosis; diarrhea; drug discovery; target product profile