Developing Therapeutics to Reduce Cryptosporidium Morbidity and Mortality Among Children in Low-Resource Settings
Cryptosporidium is an intestinal protozoan parasite that is a major cause of diarrheal disease among young children in low-resource settings. Beyond diarrheal disease, cryptosporidiosis is associated with other chronic conditions, including growth faltering, environmental enteric dysfunction, and possibly impaired cognitive development. Current therapeutic options are limited, with only one drug, nitazoxanide, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. There is only one drug in clinical trials against Cryptosporidium: clofazimine, a repurposed leprosy drug developed more than three decades ago. There are no vaccines for Cryptosporidium approved or in clinical development. This poster summarizes key initiatives to develop new Cryptosporidium drugs, including an overview of PATH's portfolio.
Publication date: November 2018