The first all-oral treatment for Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) rhodesiense sleeping sickness, an acute form of the disease, is now available free of charge to patients in specialized treatment centres in Ethiopia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Ministries of Health in several African countries have approved the use of Fexinidazole Winthrop for T.b. rhodesiense sleeping sickness treatment.
‘Until now, the only treatment for the advanced stage of the disease involved a toxic intravenous drug that required hospitalization. Today, with this breakthrough, we have a safe and simple oral treatment that can be taken at home with minimal observation, revolutionizing care for patients. The authorization of Fexinidazole Winthrop in Malawi and several other African countries is a testament to the dedication and hard work of African doctors, clinicians, healthcare staff, and communities who contributed to its development,’ said Dr Westain Nyirenda, principal investigator of the clinical trials for Fexinidazole Winthrop in Malawi.
The clinical trials that led to Fexinidazole Winthrop’s approval were sponsored by the not-for-profit medical research organization Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
