What is the new drug for sleeping sickness called?

The new drug for sleeping sickness is called acoziborole.

How is acoziborole administered for sleeping sickness?

Acoziborole is administered as a single dose, taken as three pills swallowed together.

What is the goal regarding sleeping sickness by 2030?

The goal is to eliminate sleeping sickness by 2030.

Home / Health / Sleeping Sickness Breakthrough: One Pill Cures All

Sleeping Sickness Breakthrough: One Pill Cures All

17 Mar

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Summary

A single-dose pill offers hope for eliminating sleeping sickness by 2030.
The new drug, acoziborole, replaces lengthy treatments with harsh side effects.
Nearly 1,000 cases of sleeping sickness occurred globally last year.

Sleeping Sickness Breakthrough: One Pill Cures All

A significant medical advancement promises to help the World Health Organization achieve its goal of eliminating sleeping sickness by 2030. A committee of the European Medicines Agency has recommended the approval of acoziborole, a novel single-dose treatment for the disease, which could be available by early next year.

This new medication is particularly notable as it is administered as three pills taken together, a vast improvement over older treatments that involved intravenous drugs with severe side effects. Even current oral treatments require ten days of medication and can cause adverse reactions like nausea and heart rhythm disturbances. Clinical trials for acoziborole reported only mild headaches as a significant side effect.