Bringing innovation to intestinal worm treatment

The STOP2030 research project marks the final steps in our journey to create an alternative, more effective treatment for soil-transmitted helminthiasis caused by parasitic intestinal worms. In areas of poor sanitation, worm eggs are excreted in faeces and ingested by another person. WHO estimates 1.5 billion people are infected. In the last few years, a novel formulation to treat soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections has been evaluated in clinical trials in three countries (STOP I AND II). After successful results, STOP2030 aims to complete its clinical evaluation and assess its feasibility and acceptability, in order to prepare its future implementation.

The approach consists in a new treatment combining two existing, licensed drugs that are currently in use for intestinal worm treatment. These compounds, separately, are limited by each treating different types of intestinal worms and risk generating drug resistance. The combination of these two compounds together into one pill provides an innovative therapy effective against all five species and reduces the risk of worms developing resistance. The co-formulation aims to be safe, accessible and affordable to facilitate its implementation in mass drug administration campaigns.

To effectively tackle the problem caused by intestinal worms, it is essential to co-create solutions with countries affected by the disease. Therefore the team is composed of partners from Kenya and Ghana research and public health sectors, as well as international public health organizations and a private sector pharmaceutical group. The collaboration between continents and areas of expertise helps identify and overcome challenges that may limit implementation, accelerating the future treatment’s availability for all those who need it.