BRIEF—Novartis wins funding to develop parasitic disease candidate

Switzerland’s Novartis has received $6.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop cryptosporidiosis candidate KDU731.

Cryptosporidiosis is the second leading cause of infectious diarrhea in children under two. KDU731 has been shown in preclinical models to effectively treat infection.

Thierry Diagana, head of the Novartis research institute NITD, said: "We are committed to the fight against cryptosporidiosis and other infectious and neglected tropical diseases and are proud to work closely with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners in this effort.”