Published 9 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2755
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2755
News
WHO researchers start trial on a new drug for river blindness
Nayanah Siva
1 London
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Researchers at the World Health Organization are to begin a clinical trial in three African countries for a new drug, moxidectin, in the hope of eliminating river blindness.
River blindness, onchocerciasis, is one of the most devastating parasitic diseases, prevalent in many African countries, and is transmitted by the blackfly, which breeds in fast flowing rivers. Currently, the disease is controlled by the drug ivermectin, which has been donated to countries where onchocerciasis is endemic for the past 20 years by the pharmaceutical company Merck.
"Ivermectin is a time tested, safe drug for the community in general," says Hannan Masud, an ophthalmologist at the Combined Military Hospital in Nowshera, Pakistan, but adds that ivermectin is "contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, and in children less than 8 years of age." These two groups make up a significant section of the population, for whom there is no medicine, says Dr Masud.
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