In response to the completion of the pivotal Phase III trial in Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya for arpraziquantel – a potential new treatment option for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children, the Pediatric PZQ Consortium in partnership with GHIT Fund will host a special webinar on December 9, 2021 5:00pm – 6:30pm JST. The webinar will feature the work of the Pediatric PZQ Consortium since 2012; the consortium’s inception, development of new pediatric treatment option, clinical trial experiences and its expected impacts and its future pathway.

[Title] Completion of its pivotal Phase III trial of arpraziquantel – a potential new treatment option for preschool-aged children suffering from schistosomiasis

[Date & Time] December 9, 2021 5:00pm – 6:30pm JST

[Language] Japanese/English (Simultaneous interpretation is available)

[Fee] Free

[Registration link] https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Sn3b0TVSRk2Ll-deQx9LMg

[Speakers & presentation title]

・Dr. Benjamin Dälken, Senior Director, Global Program Lead Immunology & Global Health, Merck｜Opening remarks and introduction to the PZQ Consortium [English][Japanese]

・Dr. Aya Yajima, Regional Adviser, Neglected Tropical Disease Control, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia｜What is schistosomiasis, its burden on public health [Japanese]

・Dr. Hiroyuki Kojima, Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Labs, Pharmaceutical Technology, Astellas Pharma Inc. Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Science, Kyushu University, Japan｜A journey of development of new tablet for pediatric treatment for schistosomiasis - Potential added values for pre-school children – [Japanese]

・Dr. Okba Haj-Ali, Medical Lead, Global Health, Merck｜Phase III summary data [English][Japanese]

・Dr. Maurice Odiere, Principal Research Scientist, Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)｜Experiences from participation in the clinical study for arpraziquantel and the expected impact of the potential new pediatric treatment on patients [English][Japanese]

・(MC) Dr. Hayato Urabe, Senior Director, Investment Strategy, Portfolio Development & Innovations, GHIT Fund

Schistosomiasis is one of the most damaging parasitic diseases, affecting the lives of around 240 million people, and is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The drug praziquantel – the current standard treatment developed in the 1970s – is safe, effective, and available for school-aged children and adults. At present, around 50 million preschool-aged children have been left untreated in public health programs primarily due to the lack of an appropriate child-friendly formulation of the drug. 

The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, a public-private partnership dedicated to the development of arpraziquantel since 2012, a potential new treatment option for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children, announced the completion of its pivotal Phase III trial in Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya. Derived from praziquantel, newly developed arpraziquantel is an orally dispersible tablet (dissolves in the mouth). It was developed by Astellas Pharma Inc. in Japan The new tablet is small, has appropriate taste properties, can be taken with or without water, and withstands the hot and humid challenges presented by a tropical climate. 

The results of the phase III trial, co-funded by the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), confirm a favorable efficacy and safety profile for arpraziquantel in children 3 months to 6 years of age.