Astellas, DNDi to enter into neglected tropical disease research collaboration

The research collaboration will focus on three neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness.

Astellas drug discovery research senior vice president Shin-ichi Tsukamoto said the company believes that this joint research method leads to the early entry into the development stage of new potential agents if promising compounds are identified as candidates.

"Astellas will seek the way to contribute drug discovery research for NTDs based on Astellas’ advanced science," Tsukamoto added.

According to the agreement, Astellas will provide DNDi with a selection of original compounds, which will be screened at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Switzerland.

The pharmaceutical profiles of the compounds were studied in pre-clinical and/or clinical stages at Astellas.

DNDi will test the anti-protozoan activities by conducting reprofiling of the compounds and will assess their potential as new anti-protozoan candidates for the three targeted diseases.

DNDi executive director Bernard Pecoul said, "In the field of neglected diseases, and particularly for the most neglected – leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness – this new partnership reinforces the critical mass of engaged actors necessary to address urgent patient needs."