Chinese Drug Tribendimidine a Promising Drug Candidate Against Liver Fluke

8 million people worldwide suffer from a helminth infection caused by the nematode Opisthorchis viverrini, many of them in Lao PDR and Thailand. Eating raw or undercooked fish, the parasites enter the human body where they provoke inflammation of the gallbladder and the lethal gallbladder cancer. In a Phase2-clinical trial, scientists from Swiss TPH and NIOPH determined the ideal dosage of tribendimidine, a Chinese drug against hookworm and roundworm infections and confirmed its efficacy against Opisthorchis viverrini. “Already a small dosage of tribendimidine is able to heal the patients and to reduce the number of eggs considerably” says Jennifer Keiser (Swiss TPH) who led the study.

Small Dosage, High Impact

In two clinical trials in endemic regions in Lao PDR, the international research group determined the ideal dosage of tribendimidine for adults and children. The results confirm a high cure rate already at a small dosage: 100mg of tribendimidine resulted in a cure rate of 61% and an egg reduction rate of 97% in adults and a cure rate above 77% and an egg reduction rate of 99% in children. This makes tribendimidine as effective as praziquantel, the standard therapy against helminth infections. «Tribenimidine is a valuable alternative to the traditional praziquantel» confirms Jennifer Keiser.

Tribendimidine – A Drug With a Wide Range of Therapeutic Use

The study showed that tribedimidine offers a wide range of applications. The drug can effectively be described against over 20 different helminth infections. It is active against roundworms, hookworms or whipworms as well as against liver fluke. This makes tribendimidine a promising drug candidate to fight helminth infections in many parts in Africa and Asia.