Schistosomiasis Mansoni

TOKYO, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund announced today a total investment of approximately JPY 1.7 billion (USD 11.4 million1) in five projects for the development of schistosomiasis diagnostics and drugs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). 2 Investment total of approximately JPY 780 million ( USD 5.2 million 1 ) for the development of diagnostics for schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is one of 21 NTDs that affects approximately 250 million people worldwide, with 90% of cases occurring in Africa. People become infected through contact with contaminated freshwater, allowing the parasite to penetrate their skin.. Among the five species of schistosomiasis causing the disease, two are widely distributed on the African continent: Schistosoma haematobium, which infects the urogenitary tract, and Schistosoma mansoni, which infects the intestines and liver. Current diagnostics face challenges such as low sensitivity and quality issues, making it difficult to accurately assess the infection status. To address this issue, the GHIT Fund had decided to invest approximately JPY 780 million (USD 5.2 million1) in two projects to develop new diagnostics for schistosomiasis led by Drugs & Diagnostics for Tropical Diseases, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, USA, in collaboration with Medical & Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer of clinical diagnostic kits and reagents, Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. The project will advance the development of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for Schistosoma mansoni, leveraging previous research findings and evaluating the diagnostic performance of the candidate RDT in endemic regions of Africa. In addition, the project team will develop a new serological RDT for Schistosoma haematobium. These tests are expected to be used as a low-cost, easy-to-use point-of-care (POC) diagnostic to support decision-making for Interruption of Transmission/Stopping Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and for subsequent surveillance of the disease. In addition, the GHIT Fund will invest in the following three R&D projects for a total amount of approximately JPY 932 million (USD 6.2 million1): 1) Phase I clinical trial project for dengue vaccine by VLP Therapeutics, Inc. and Nagasaki University. 2) Screening project against chikungunya by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Eisai Co., Ltd. 3) Screening project against Chagas disease by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Please refer to Appendix 1 for detailed descriptions of these projects and their development stages. As of March 18, 2025, the GHIT Fund has invested in 35 projects, including 14 discovery projects, 12 preclinical projects and nine clinical trials.4 The total amount of investments since 2013 is JPY 37.5 billion (USD 251 million1) (Appendix 2). 1 USD1 = JPY149.63, the approximate exchange rate on February 28, 2025. 2 These awarded projects were selected and approved as new investments from among proposals to RFP2023-002 and RFP2024-001 for the Product Development Platform and the Screening Platform, which were open for applications from June 2023 to July 2024. 3 WHO: 4 This number includes projects in the registration phase. The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership (PPP) fund that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world's vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. Appendix 1. Project Details ID: G2024-202 ID: G2024-203 ID: G2023-201 ID: S2024-112 ID: S2024-121 *All amounts are listed at an exchange rate of USD1 = JPY149.63, the approximate exchange rate on February 28, 2025. Appendix 2. Investment Overview (as of March 18, 2025) Investments to date Total investments: 37.5 billion yen (USD 251 million1) Total invested projects: 136 (35 active projects and 101 completed projects) To learn more about the GHIT Fund's investments, please visit Investment Overview: Portfolio: Advancing Portfolio: Clinical Candidates: For more information, contact: Katy Lenard at +1-202-494-2584 or [email protected] Mina Ohata at +81-36441-2032 or [email protected] SOURCE GHIT Fund WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

The new facility will allow Astellas to expand its capacity and capabilities for aseptic drug products. Credit: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com. Astellas Pharma is submitting a planning application for the construction of a new drug production facility in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. To be based on the Industrial Development Authority’s greenfield site in Kerry Technology Park, the new facility will involve an investment of €330m. Recommended Reports Reports Schistosomiasis mansoni Infections Drugs in Development by Stages, Target, MoA, RoA, Molecule Typ... GlobalData Reports Enterococcus Faecium Infections Drugs in Development by Stages, Target, MoA, RoA, Molecule Type a... GlobalData View all Companies Intelligence Astellas Pharma Inc Astellas B.V. View all It will allow the company to expand its capacity and capabilities for aseptic drug products. It will also bolster stable production for supply worldwide and expedite the development and commercialisation of new antibody drugs and other products. To be constructed on a 44.7-acre site, the three-storey building will feature a total floor area of 17,000m² and a footprint of 7,300m². Construction is set to start in 2024, with the site operational by 2028. The new facility will align with the company’s commitment to sustainability, integrating national and international energy and environmental design standards. The project aims to decrease water usage by 50%, lower operational energy intensity by one-third and achieve zero waste sent to landfill. Astellas chief manufacturing officer Hideki Shima stated: “Astellas is developing innovative drugs and technologies based on our Focus Area research and development approach, placing patients at the forefront of everything we do. “With the new facility, Astellas will aim to strengthen our in-house production capacity and capabilities and ensure a stable supply of high-quality Astellas medicines to patients around the world.”