Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Intensifies Research Initiatives to Fight Schistosomiasis

• Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium starts pivotal Phase III study for a pediatric praziquantel formulation in Kenya
• Neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis affects almost 240 million people worldwide and causes about 200,000 deaths per year

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced that, as part of its integrated Schistosomiasis Elimination Program, it is intensifying its Research & Development (R&D) efforts to develop and provide access to transformative and sustainable health solutions to fight schistosomiasis. As one of the flagship projects, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium program initiated the Phase III clinical trial in Kenya for a new formulation of praziquantel to treat schistosomiasis in pre-school age children (<6 years of age). This trial will also be conducted in Ivory Coast.

“As a leading company in the fight against schistosomiasis, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany wants to impactfully contribute to the control and elimination of the disease through sustainable innovation development,” said Petra Wicklandt, Head of Corporate Affairs at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “The Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium program has made remarkable progress. The start of the Phase III trial, which I witnessed by visiting the clinical site in Homa Bay in Kenya, is just one example of recent achievements.”

“The availability of a pediatric medication is essential to address the medical need of infected preschool-age children. Our investment today will secure our future generation,” said Dr. Maurice Odiere, Principal Investigator for the pediatric formulation Phase III trial and Principal Research Officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Through its Global Health Institute, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has established a portfolio of innovative and collaborative projects for new or adapted treatments, sensitive schistosomiasis diagnostics, technologies to control transmission, and educational approaches to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Together with partners, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is performing drug discovery activities for new treatments. Promising assets from Salvensis and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine have recently been obtained to identify potential new candidates to prevent and cure patients affected by schistosomiasis. In addition, the company is collaborating with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a Rapid Diagnostic Test as a new sensitive diagnostic to improve mapping and case detection for schistosomiasis. Furthermore, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is investing into innovative technologies for vector control and clean water to control transmission. The recently announced Eisai / Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany partnership addresses this topic.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany complements these R&D activities with its annual donation of up to 250 million praziquantel tablets, the standard-of-care treatment, to the World Health Organization (WHO). The neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis affects almost 240 million people worldwide, mainly in communities without access to safe drinking water and with poor sanitation, with an estimated number of deaths of about 200,000 per year.