DNDI-6148 Chagas disease

To develop an oxaborole for Chagas disease

There is an urgent need for new treatments that can be used for both the acute and chronic stages of Chagas disease and that are safer and more effective than current treatment regimens, which use benznidazole and nifurtimox.

The oxaborole DNDI-6148 has emerged as a promising lead candidate for visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis; it has also shown efficacy against Chagas disease in an in vivo model and its potential for further development is being assessed.

In 2023, development of DNDI-6148 was paused pending further studies to determine the potential for reproductive toxicity. Due to their potential teratogenic effects, current treatments for Chagas disease – benznidazole and nifurtimox – cannot be used by pregnant women or women who may become pregnant. Together with partners, DNDi is currently conducting pre-clinical assessments of a number of oxaboroles to select the best candidate for further development.