By: Ruth Yared
African View, December 1, 2023
New drug for mycetoma from Sudan Promising results of a new and effective drug for myxoma.
Mycetoma is a chronic infection caused by bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma) and is one of the most neglected diseases in the world. It is endemic in many countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with Sudan and Mexico reporting the highest number of cases worldwide. The disease is contracted through implantation, meaning that people become infected through thorn pricks while walking barefoot. It primarily affects young adults, with children making up about 20-25% of all mycetoma patients, according to the MRC.
The disease also causes mental health complications and creates introversion caused by the patient's inability to communicate as a result of the discharge and deformities of the affected foot.
In 2017, DNDi, in partnership with the MRC and Eisai, launched a clinical trial for fosravuconazole, a new antifungal treatment. Discovered by Eisai, the drug was later developed for patients with onychomycosis. However, the trial with MRC and Eisai was the first-ever double-blind, randomized clinical study for eumycetoma. It aimed to assess the superiority of fosravuconazole over itraconazole, which is the standard of care in endemic areas.
Results from the clinical trial showed that both drugs had similar efficacy rates. Fosravuconazole had an efficacy rate of 65% and 85% in the 300-milligram arm and the 200-milligram arm, respectively, while the itraconazole 400-milligram arm had an efficacy rate of 80%, which was higher than expected based on historical data.* While the difference between these efficacy rates was not found to be statistically significant, fosravuconazole has significant advantages over the standard of care.
Source: DNDi2
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