Praziquantel may help slow HIV/AIDS transmission

Research into the Schistosoma mansoni parasitic flatworm has revealed that the water-borne cause of schistosomiasis could be part of the reason that HIV/AIDS has become prevalent in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The study found that as little as 1/17th of the amount of HIV could infect a parasite-carrying monkey than a healthy one.

A drug used to treat the condition, praziquantel, developed by German drugmakers Bayer and Merck KGaA, has been provided to the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative via Canadian financial sponsorship from USA-based generic drugmaker Medpharm (Marketletter September 18, 2006). Merck, which developed the drug for veterinary use only, has pledged to supply 200 million Cesol 600 de-worming tablets (praziquantel) to three African countries, worth $80.0 million (Marketletter April 28).

Linking schistosomiasis to an increased risk of HIV transmission could raise the profile of this currently "neglected" tropical disease.