BiopharmaDirect

Novartis, DNDi to jointly develop LXE408 for visceral leishmaniasis

Novartis has signed a collaboration and licence agreement with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) for the joint development of LXE408 as a new oral drug for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.

LXE408 was discovered at Novartis with the financial backing of the Wellcome Trust.

According to Novartis, more than a billion people across the world are at risk of being infected with leishmaniasis, which is transmitted by the bite of a sand-fly. Visceral leishmaniasis is the most serious form of leishmaniasis, which if left treated can lead to death.

Novartis said that treating visceral leishmaniasis is complex as it depends on the species of infecting parasite and the country, and also because treatment responses vary from region to region.

Novartis global health chief operating officer Lutz Hegemann said: “Novartis has a long-term commitment to neglected tropical diseases that spans several decades. Diseases caused by kinetoplastid parasites, such as leishmaniasis, are one of our strategic research priorities and, together with our partners, we have developed a promising portfolio of drug candidates.”

As per the terms of the agreement, the Swiss pharma company will take care of completing phase I clinical trials of LXE408. Apart from that, the company will take care of pharmaceutical development and regulatory submissions of the compound.

If approved, Novartis has committed to distributing the potential visceral leishmaniasis drug on an affordable basis across the world with a focus on maximising access in endemic countries.

DNDi, which is a not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organisation, will lead the phase 2 and phase 3 clinical development of the compound.

source: https://pharmanewshq.com/novartis-dndi-to-jointly-develop-lxe408-for-visceral-leishmaniasis/

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