SEATTLE, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) announced today the start of a clinical trial in Sudan to test its leishmaniasis vaccine candidate for the treatment of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), a complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) which is observed in 50% of patients treated for VL in the country, predominantly affecting children. This trial reflects IDRI's commitment to develop innovative, affordable products against all forms of leishmaniasis, one of the most neglected infectious diseases.
"Sudan has the highest number of cases of PKDL in the world," said Professor Eltahir Awad Gasim Khalil, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum and Principal Investigator of the study. "Current drug treatments are inadequate and we urgently need a practical and affordable approach to treat patients with PKDL and ultimately help control leishmaniasis infection in our country."
Dr. Steven Reed, IDRI's Founder and Head of Research and Development said: "Therapeutic vaccines could prove a vital part of the treatment approach to leishmaniasis. They work by helping the patient's own immune system kill the parasite. Based on the promising results of our clinical trials in South America, we strongly believe that a therapeutic vaccine can improve leishmaniasis treatment efficacy."
IDRI is actively developing new methods of diagnosis and care management for patients suffering from leishmaniasis. If successful, these diagnostic and therapeutic tools would complement each other to provide an improved strategy against this long-neglected disease.
About IDRI
IDRI is a Seattle-based not-for-profit organization committed to applying innovative science to the research and development of products to prevent, detect, and treat infectious diseases of poverty. By integrating capabilities, IDRI strives to create an efficient pathway bringing scientific innovation from the lab to the people who need it most. For more information, go to www.idri.org.
SOURCE Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)
CONTACT: Alice Grasset of Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI),
+1- 206-330-2553 or agrasset@idri.org
Web site: http://www.idri.org/
