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Ma Z, Augustijn K, De Esch I, Bossink B. Public-private partnerships influencing the initiation and duration of clinical trials for neglected tropical diseases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011760. [PMID: 37956165 PMCID: PMC10681307 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are often studied as an organizational form that facilitates the management and control of the huge costs of drug research and development. Especially the later stages of drug development, including clinical trials, become very expensive. This present study investigates whether and how the type of PPPs influences the initiation and duration of NTD clinical trials. Using the ClinicalTrials.gov database, a dataset of 1175 NTD clinical studies that started between 2000 and 2021 is analyzed based on affiliation information and project duration. For the NTD clinical trials that resulted from PPPs, the collaborating types were determined and analyzed, including the public sector-, private sector-, governmental sector-, and nongovernmental organization-led collaborations. The determinants for the discontinuation of all stopped clinical trials were categorized into scientific-, funding-, political-, and logistic dimensions. The results reveal that public sector-led PPPs were the most common collaborative types, and logistic and scientific issues were the most frequent determinants of stopped clinical trials. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxuan Ma
- Breakthrough Tech Innovation research group, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kevin Augustijn
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Universitair Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iwan De Esch
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Bossink
- Breakthrough Tech Innovation research group, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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De Araújo JS, da Silva PB, Batista MM, Peres RB, Cardoso-Santos C, Kalejaiye TD, Munday JC, De Heuvel E, Sterk GJ, Augustyns K, Salado IG, Matheeussen A, De Esch I, De Koning HP, Leurs R, Maes L, Soeiro MDNC. Evaluation of phthalazinone phosphodiesterase inhibitors with improved activity and selectivity against Trypanosoma cruzi. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:958-967. [PMID: 31860098 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas' disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, needs urgent alternative therapeutic options as the treatments currently available display severe limitations, mainly related to efficacy and toxicity. OBJECTIVES As phosphodiesterases (PDEs) have been claimed as novel targets against T. cruzi, our aim was to evaluate the biological aspects of 12 new phthalazinone PDE inhibitors against different T. cruzi strains and parasite forms relevant for human infection. METHODS In vitro trypanocidal activity of the inhibitors was assessed alone and in combination with benznidazole. Their effects on parasite ultrastructural and cAMP levels were determined. PDE mRNA levels from the different T. cruzi forms were measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS Five TcrPDEs were found to be expressed in all parasite stages. Four compounds displayed strong effects against intracellular amastigotes. Against bloodstream trypomastigotes (BTs), three were at least as potent as benznidazole. In vitro combination therapy with one of the most active inhibitors on both parasite forms (NPD-040) plus benznidazole demonstrated a quite synergistic profile (xΣ FICI = 0.58) against intracellular amastigotes but no interaction (xΣ FICI = 1.27) when BTs were assayed. BTs treated with NPD-040 presented disrupted Golgi apparatus, a swollen flagellar pocket and signs of autophagy. cAMP measurements of untreated parasites showed that amastigotes have higher ability to efflux this second messenger than BTs. NPD-001 and NPD-040 increase the intracellular cAMP content in both BTs and amastigotes, which is also released into the extracellular milieu. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate the potential of PDE inhibitors as anti-T. cruzi drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raiza Brandão Peres
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Cardoso-Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Titilola D Kalejaiye
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jane C Munday
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Erik De Heuvel
- Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines & Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Jan Sterk
- Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines & Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Koen Augustyns
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irene G Salado
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - An Matheeussen
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Iwan De Esch
- Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines & Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harry P De Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Rob Leurs
- Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines & Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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