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Rychlá N, Navrátilová M, Kohoutová E, Raisová Stuchlíková L, Štěrbová K, Krátký J, Matoušková P, Szotáková B, Skálová L. Flubendazole carbonyl reduction in drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus: changes during the life cycle and possible inhibition. Vet Res 2024; 55:7. [PMID: 38225645 PMCID: PMC10790374 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01264-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbonyl-reducing enzymes (CREs) catalyse the reduction of carbonyl groups in many eobiotic and xenobiotic compounds in all organisms, including helminths. Previous studies have shown the important roles of CREs in the deactivation of several anthelmintic drugs (e.g., flubendazole and mebendazole) in adults infected with the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus, in which the activity of a CRE is increased in drug-resistant strains. The aim of the present study was to compare the abilities of nematodes of both a drug-susceptible strain (ISE) and a drug-resistant strain (IRE) to reduce the carbonyl group of flubendazole (FLU) in different developmental stages (eggs, L1/2 larvae, L3 larvae, and adults). In addition, the effects of selected CRE inhibitors (e.g., glycyrrhetinic acid, naringenin, silybin, luteolin, glyceraldehyde, and menadione) on the reduction of FLU were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo in H. contortus adults. The results showed that FLU was reduced by H. contortus in all developmental stages, with adult IRE females being the most metabolically active. Larvae (L1/2 and L3) and adult females of the IRE strain reduced FLU more effectively than those of the ISE strain. Data from the in vitro inhibition study (performed with cytosolic-like fractions of H. contortus adult homogenate) revealed that glycyrrhetinic acid, naringenin, mebendazole and menadione are effective inhibitors of FLU reduction. Ex vivo study data showed that menadione inhibited FLU reduction and also decreased the viability of H. contortus adults to a similar extent. Naringenin and mebendazole were not toxic at the concentrations tested, but they did not inhibit the reduction of FLU in adult worms ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Rychlá
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Navrátilová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Eliška Kohoutová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Raisová Stuchlíková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Karolína Štěrbová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Krátký
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Szotáková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského, 1203, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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Morgan ER, Lanusse C, Rinaldi L, Charlier J, Vercruysse J. Confounding factors affecting faecal egg count reduction as a measure of anthelmintic efficacy. Parasite 2022; 29:20. [PMID: 35389336 PMCID: PMC8988865 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing anthelmintic resistance (AR) in livestock has stimulated growing efforts to monitor anthelmintic effectiveness (AE) on livestock farms. On-farm assessment of AE relies on measuring the reduction in faecal egg count (FEC) following treatment; and if conducted rigorously, qualifies as a formal FEC reduction test (FECRT) for AR. Substantial research effort has been devoted to designing robust protocols for the FECRT and its statistical interpretation; however, a wide range of factors other than AR can affect FEC reduction on farms. These are not always possible to control, and can affect the outcome and repeatability of AE measurements and confound the on-farm classification of AR using FECRT. This review considers confounders of FEC reduction, focusing on gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants, including host and parasite physiology and demography; pharmacokinetic variation between drugs, parasites and hosts; and technical performance. Drug formulation and delivery, host condition and diet, and seasonal variation in parasite species composition, can all affect AE and hence observed FEC reduction. Causes of variation in FEC reduction should be attenuated, but this is not always possible. Regular monitoring of AE can indicate a need to improve anthelmintic administration practices, and detect AR early in its progression. Careful interpretation of FEC reduction, however, taking into account possible confounders, is essential before attributing reduced FEC reduction to AR. Understanding of confounders of FEC reduction will complement advances in FECRT design and interpretation to provide measures of anthelmintic efficacy that are both rigorous and accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Morgan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19, Chlorine Gardens, BT9 5DL Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Lanusse
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN) (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UNCPBA, 7000 Tandil, Argentina
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via Delpino, 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Jozef Vercruysse
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Goessens T, De Baere S, Deknock A, De Troyer N, Van Leeuwenberg R, Martel A, Pasmans F, Goethals P, Lens L, Spanoghe P, Vanhaecke L, Croubels S. Agricultural contaminants in amphibian breeding ponds: Occurrence, risk and correlation with agricultural land use. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150661. [PMID: 34597541 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pressure such as agricultural pollution globally affects amphibian populations. In this study, a total of 178 different compounds from five agrochemical groups (i.e. antimicrobial drugs residues (ADRs), coccidiostats and anthelmintics, heavy metals, mycotoxins and pesticides) were determined monthly, from March until June 2019 in 26 amphibian breeding ponds in Flanders, Belgium. Furthermore, a possible correlation between the number and concentration of selected contaminants that were found and the percentage of arable land within a 200 m radius was studied. Within each group, the highest detected concentrations were obtained for 4-epioxytetracycline (0.422 μg L-1), levamisole (0.550 μg L-1), zinc (333.1 μg L-1), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (0.013 μg L-1), and terbuthylazine (38.7 μg L-1), respectively, with detection frequencies ranging from 1 (i.e. 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol) to 26 (i.e. zinc) out of 26 ponds. Based on reported acute and chronic ecotoxicological endpoints, detected concentrations of bifenthrin, cadmium, copper, cypermethrin, hexachlorobenzene, mercury, terbuthylazine, and zinc pose a substantial ecological risk to aquatic invertebrates such as Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia, which both play a role in the food web and potentially in amphibian disease dynamics. Additionally, the detected concentrations of copper were high enough to exert chronic toxicity in the gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor). The number of detected compounds per pond ranged between 0 and 5 (ADRs), 0 - 2 (coccidiostats and anthelmintics), 1 - 7 (heavy metals), 0 - 4 (mycotoxins), and 0 - 12 (pesticides) across the four months. Furthermore, no significant correlation was demonstrated between the number of detected compounds per pond, as well as the detected concentrations of 4-epioxytetracycline, levamisole, copper, zinc, enniatin B and terbuthylazine, and the percentage of arable land within a 200 m radius. For heavy metals and pesticides, the number of compounds per pond varied significantly between months. Conclusively, amphibian breeding ponds in Flanders were frequently contaminated with agrochemicals, yielding concentrations up to the high μg per liter level, regardless of the percentage surrounding arable land, however showing temporal variation for heavy metals and pesticides. This research also identifies potential hazardous substances which may be added to the European watch list (CD 2018/408/EC) in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Goessens
- Ghent University, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium.
| | - S De Baere
- Ghent University, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - A Deknock
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium
| | - N De Troyer
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium
| | - R Van Leeuwenberg
- Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, Wildlife Health Ghent, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - A Martel
- Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, Wildlife Health Ghent, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - F Pasmans
- Ghent University, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, Wildlife Health Ghent, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - P Goethals
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Ecology Unit, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium
| | - L Lens
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
| | - P Spanoghe
- Ghent University, Department of Plants and Crops, Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent, Belgium
| | - L Vanhaecke
- Ghent University, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium; Queen's University, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Belfast, Ireland
| | - S Croubels
- Ghent University, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Khachigian LM. Emerging insights on functions of the anthelmintic flubendazole as a repurposed anticancer agent. Cancer Lett 2021; 522:57-62. [PMID: 34520820 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
While flubendazole has been used as a macrofilaricide in humans and animals for some 40 years, work in vitro and in preclinical models over the last decade has suggested its potential use as an anticancer agent. This article reviews recent studies in a range of tumor types indicating novel functions for flubendazole in its control of processes associated with tumor growth, spread and renewal including ferroptosis, autophagy, cancer stem-like cell killing and suppression of intratumoral myeloid-derived suppressor cell accumulation and programmed cell death protein 1. Flubendazole's potential use in clinical oncology will require further understanding of its mechanistic roles, range of inhibition of cancer types, capacity for adjunctive therapy and possible reformulation for enhanced solubility, bioavailability and potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levon M Khachigian
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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Goessens T, Baere SD, Troyer ND, Deknock A, Goethals P, Lens L, Pasmans F, Croubels S. Highly sensitive multi-residue analysis of veterinary drugs including coccidiostats and anthelmintics in pond water using UHPLC-MS/MS: application to freshwater ponds in Flanders, Belgium. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:2117-2131. [PMID: 32969449 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00215a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Veterinary drugs, such as coccidiostats and anthelmintics are routinely administered in extensive animal husbandry, finding their way into the aquatic environment through urine and/or feces of treated animals kept outdoors or by the application of contaminated liquid manure on agricultural fields and subsequent mechanisms of surface run-off, leaching and drift. Several of these compounds are known to exert acute and chronic toxicity effects on aquatic organisms, and can lead to changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The overall objective of this research was to develop, validate and apply a highly sensitive, multi-residue SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of 12 coccidiostats, registered as a feed supplement or veterinary medicine in Europe and three regularly used anthelmintics, in pond water, often functioning as amphibian habitat. Sample extraction was optimized using a fractional factorial resolution design. Pond water filtration efficiency (i.e. 80-118%, ≤25% RSD) and matrix effects (i.e. 72-119%, ≤39% RSD) were evaluated using water from respectively 3 and 20 different ponds in Flanders. By incorporating internal standards, overall results improved and adequate precision values (i.e.≤15%) were obtained according to the EMA guidelines. Acceptable within-run and between-run apparent recoveries, satisfactory precision as well as good linearity were demonstrated according to the CD 2002/657/EC, SANTE/12682/2019 and VICH 49 guidelines, except for robenidine for which the between-day precision was between 21.0 and 34.5%. Sample storage stability studies indicated that storage at 4 °C and analysis performed within 96 hours after sampling was sufficient to avoid loss by degradation for all compounds, excluding robenidine. Values for the limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were in nanograms per liter, which was essential for the environmental application of this novel method. The method was successfully applied on grab water samples from the water surface of 18 different ponds across Flanders, Belgium, detecting amprolium and levamisole at concentrations below the LOQ of 2.5 ng L-1 and at 250.0 ng L-1 or below the LOQ of 250.0 ng L-1, respectively. In conclusion, our newly developed method may provide insights about the contamination status of amphibian breeding ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Goessens
- Ghent University, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Kubíček V, Skálová L, Skarka A, Králová V, Holubová J, Štěpánková J, Šubrt Z, Szotáková B. Carbonyl Reduction of Flubendazole in the Human Liver: Strict Stereospecificity, Sex Difference, Low Risk of Drug Interactions. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:600. [PMID: 31191322 PMCID: PMC6546852 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Flubendazole (FLU), an anthelmintic drug of benzimidazole type, is now considered a promising anti-cancer agent due to its tubulin binding ability and low system toxicity. The present study was aimed at determining more information about FLU reduction in human liver, because this information has been insufficient until now. Subcellular fractions from the liver of 12 human patients (6 male and 6 female patients) were used to study the stereospecificity, cellular localization, coenzyme preference, enzyme kinetics, and possible inter-individual or sex differences in FLU reduction. In addition, the risk of FLU interaction with other drugs was evaluated. Our study showed that FLU is predominantly reduced in cytosol, and the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) coenzyme is preferred. The strict stereospecificity of FLU carbonyl reduction was proven, and carbonyl reductase 1 was identified as the main enzyme of FLU reduction in the human liver. A higher reduction of FLU and a higher level of carbonyl reductase 1 protein were found in male patients than in female patients, but overall inter-individual variability was relatively low. Hepatic intrinsic clearance of FLU is very low, and FLU had no effect on doxorubicin carbonyl reduction in the liver and in cancer cells. All these results fill the gaps in the knowledge of FLU metabolism in human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimír Kubíček
- Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Adam Skarka
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Věra Králová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Jana Holubová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Jana Štěpánková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Zdeněk Šubrt
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia.,Department of Surgery, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czechia
| | - Barbora Szotáková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czechia
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Tao J, Zhao H, Xie X, Luo M, Gao Z, Sun H, Huang Z. The anthelmintic drug flubendazole induces cell apoptosis and inhibits NF-κB signaling in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:471-478. [PMID: 30666126 PMCID: PMC6331185 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s193206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling is activated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and can be used as a potential target for anti-ESCC drug discovery. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of flubendazole as a novel NF-κB inhibitor in ESCC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was carried out to assess cell viability of ESCC cells. Flow cytometry and immunoblotting were performed to examine cell apoptosis. Immunoblotting assay was used to analyze the protein expression of NF-κB signaling. Luciferase assay was performed to explore the activation of NF-κB. Plasmids were transfected into ESCC cells using Lipofectamine® 2000. RESULTS In this study, the anthelmintic drug flubendazole was found to inhibit the activation of IκBα kinases (IKKs), block the activation of IκBα, and decrease the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, which could be a novel NF-κB inhibitor in ESCC cells. We also found that flubendazole inhibited the cell survival of different ESCC cells and induced cell apoptosis in both EC9706 and TE1 cells. Moreover, overexpression of constitutively activated IKKβ markedly decreased the cytotoxic effect of flubendazole on EC9706 and TE1 cells. In addition, flubendazole also showed a synergistic effect on ESCC cells when combined with doxorubicin. CONCLUSION The results above demonstrated that flubendazole showed its anti-tumor action by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway and suggested that flubendazole might be re-purposed for anti-ESCC therapy in clinic as a single agent or in combination with other anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Tao
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Hongmei Zhao
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Xiaochen Xie
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Man Luo
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Zhiwei Gao
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Emergency, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
| | - Ziming Huang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an 223300, Jiangsu, China,
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Abstract
Benzimidazole anthelmintics have long been employed for the control of soil-transmitted helminth infections. Flubendazole (FBZ) was approved in 1980 for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematode infections in both veterinary and human medicine. It has also long been known that parenteral administration of FBZ can lead to high macrofilaricidal efficacy in a variety of preclinical models and in humans. As part of an effort to stimulate the discovery and development of new macrofilaricides, particularly for onchocerciasis, research has recently been devoted to the development of new formulations that would afford high oral bioavailability of FBZ, paving the way for potential clinical development of this repurposed drug for the treatment of human filariases. This review summarizes the background information that led to this program and summarizes some of the lessons learned from it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G. Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada
| | - Charles D. Mackenzie
- NTDSC/MDP, Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Silber
- Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, Janssen Research and Development, LLC., New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
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