This product cures for sleeping sickness in 97%. It is a combination of two drugs. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this product has been administered to a sample of 280 patients during 18 months of treatment and monitoring. The result was positive. That's what it takes to hold a press conference co-hosted this Wednesday at the office of the World Health Organization (WHO) / DRC, the Ministry of Health, the Initiative drugs against neglected diseases (DNDI) and Doctors without Borders (MSF). The occasion was the presentation of the findings of a clinical trial Phase 3 conducted between 2003 and 2008 in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the medical director of PNLTHA, (national program against human African trypanosomiasis), Dr. Victor Kande, one of the speakers of the day, trypanosomiasis is now under control: "The Nect *" is used either orally or by infusion. We have this drug administered to a sample of 280 people. The results are very encouraging, healing is observed around 97%. The experiments were conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Isangi in Eastern Province, to Ipomba and Katanda in Kasai Oriental. In Congo-Brazzaville, the studies were conducted Ankai. In epidemiological terms, we are still in control. We must control the disease, because the country is very broad. "
The positive results of the clinical study of the combination of nifurtimox and eflornithine (NECT) pave the way for a new therapeutic option in the care of patients of stage 2 sleep. They are an immense source of satisfaction for the initiative Drugs against Neglected Diseases (DNDi).
Several reasons for this:
• NECT is the first therapeutic improvement DNDi and its partners in the most neglected diseases;
• NECT should greatly reduce the fatality associated with the use of melarsoprol, highly toxic, arsenic-based;
• NECT should help reduce the risk of resistance associated with the use of eflornithine monotherapy;
• The clinical study of NECT, carried out in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Epicenter, the Swiss Tropical Institute (STI) and the national fight against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) of the Republic Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, shows a study within the international quality standards can be completed successfully and despite a difficult environment in endemic areas of Africa.
However, these grounds of satisfaction can not evade the fact that NECT not permit a change in the strategy of intervention that would be necessary to increase the chances of control of sleeping sickness.