Paediatric benznidazole
Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
Ginebra, Suiza
Objective: Develop and register formulations of benznidazole for treating infants and children with Chagas disease
Until 2011, benznidazole, the main drug of choice for treating Chagas disease, was only available in an adult-strength tablet. Infants and children were treated with divided or crushed adult tablets, which was complicated for caregivers and resulted in inconsistent dosing.
The paediatric formulation of benznidazole is an affordable, easy to use, non-patented dispersible tablet designed for infants and children up to two years of age (less than 20 kg). It was added to the WHO Essential Medicines List for Children in 2013.
The tablet dissolves easily so that treating young children is simpler. There is no need to divide tablets, except for low-birth-weight babies weighing less than 2.5 kg. The paediatric formulation improves dosing accuracy, safety, and adherence to treatment.
Photo credit: Fábio Nascimento-DNDi
PARTNERS
- Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación de Endemo-epidemias (CeNDIE), Ministry of Health
- Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS)
- Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Endemo-Epidemias (CeNDIE), Ministerio de Salud
- Fundación Mundo Sano
- Hospital Público Materno Infantil, Ciudad de Salta
- Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutierrez
- Laboratorio Farmacéutico del Estado de Pernambuco (LAFEPE)
- Ministerio de Salud, Provincia de Jujuy
- Hospital de Niños de Jujuy
- National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (INGEBI/CONICET)
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