Challenges and Opportunities for Drug Discovery in Developing Countries: The Example of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Abstract

The current drug discovery paradigm has failed to address the treatment need for diseases of high priority to developing countries. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a good example of such diseases with virtually no new effective drug developed in the past 70 years. The past two decades had witnessed relatively increased attention toward neglected diseases by stimulating pharmaceutical industries through introductions of Priority Review Vouchers (PRVs) and Product Development Partnerships (PDPs). However, the lion’s share of resources allocated for research and development by PRVs and PDPs is directed toward research organizations and pharmaceutical industries in developed countries. This new approach has also not led to the development of drugs for most neglected diseases including cutaneous leishmaniasis. Improving the medical discovery capacity of countries where these diseases are prevalent and enabling exploration of the hitherto untapped natural resources are an effective and sustainable solution.

Green Approach: ‘‘A Forwarding Step for Curing Leishmaniasis—A Neglected Tropical Disease’’

“…Considering these classes, CL caused by L. aethiopica is most commonly found in human population and reported to infect 6,00,000 to one million people annually all around the world. It causes severe symptoms like ulcers, serious disabilities, and life-long marks (Surur et al, 2020). Previously, various chemical drugs including liposomal amphotericin B, amphotericin B, pentamidine, pentavalent antimonials, miltefosine, and paromomycin have been practiced against Leishmania.…”

Describing competency requirements for competency-based regulatory sciences education in sub-Saharan Africa – A qualitative systematic review

“…The review also identified the following critical scientific knowledge: comprehension of medical products, their life cycles (discovery/research, development, preclinical, clinical, regulatory approval processes, postmarketing regulations, and discontinuation), and the roles of different stakeholders and professionals in the management and regulation of medical products throughout their life cycles; understanding of statistics; clinical trials; and medical products safety principles. These identified competencies are essential for sub-Saharan African regulatory scientists because medical products discovery, research and development, clinical trial management, and safe medical products are at developmental stages (Zannad et al, 2019;Surur et al, 2020).…”

Ravidasvir: equitable access through an alternative drug development pathway

“…www.thelancet.com/lancetgh Vol 9 November 2021 for accessible treatments in LMICs. [8][9][10] This is crucial especially because LMIC-based collaborations provide opportunities for learning, technology transfers, and self-reliance. Third, it is possible to place affordability and public health priorities at the heart of drug development.…”