Praziquantel

In the rice-growing regions around Lake Victoria in Tanzania, water is at the heart of work, food and life. “Cooking, washing clothes, drinking, bathing and farming – all depend on water,” says Maswali Ngelela, a rice farmer who lives in Sengerema District on the lake’s southern shore. “Water is life. Not just often – every day.” Each morning, Maswali and his children wade through rice paddies to tend to their crops. Every time they do, they’re exposed to an invisible danger. Schistosomiasis is an ever-present threat here. Maswali and at least three of his children have previously contracted the disease. Caused by water-based parasites, its symptoms include severe pain, organ damage and infertility if left untreated. In children, it stunts development, disrupts schooling and raises the risk of contracting other diseases. Maswali knows he can’t keep his children away from water entirely. Despite this, he predicts his children will grow up at less risk from schistosomiasis than he did. Historically, there hasn’t been a treatment specifically tailored for preschool-aged children, but now a child-friendly medicine has arrived. Its delivery is part of a pilot programme that is also helping communities understand how schistosomiasis spreads and how to reduce the risk of infection. Together, the programme’s treatment, education and prevention work aims to reduce the burden of the disease. “Being a Tanzanian, and for that matter a research scientist, it’s my duty to study the problems of our people,” says programme leader Paul Kazyoba, chief research scientist at Tanzania’s National Institute for Medical Research. The pilot’s success is the culmination of more than a decade’s fieldwork by Kazyoba and his colleagues. “My focus and passion is to work directly with the community, because that’s where you see the real impact,” he says. Maswali NgelelaFirst of all, water is life. But I've seen how much water can be harmful to my family. I understand more about how schistosomiasis is spread, and now I know there is medicine available from the clinic. Every day when I wake up, I have to go to the rice field. And in order to get there, I have to walk through water. As part of my farming responsibilities, I take my children with me, to help with the farm work. They come into contact with water every day, whether they're coming back from farming, washing and bathing. I really can't tell whether water is free from schistosomiasis because I don't have the means to test whether it's safe or not. My child, he came to me and said, "Dad, I feel pain when I urinate." I had to take him to a health facility for an examination and I was told that he had schistosomiasis. Three children have suffered from schistosomiasis. I feel very sad because these children are part of my family and help me with everything, and they were sick. Paul KazyobaSchistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by worms. Under the microscope schistosomiasis looks like this, and they have a very different head end, and then they also have other structures which make them look peculiar compared to earthworms. Some eggs are also different. They are oval, but with the spine. For schistosomiasis to be actively transmitted it needs one to be in contact with infected water. The interface between freshwater snail and human. That's where the infection happens. It enters into the freshwater snails and hatches into larvae. And then the snail will be shedding out the larvae into the water body. This innocent snail doesn't know that it's perpetuating the transmission of schistosomiasis. There are several consequences when one contracts schistosomiasis. For children, one of the negative impacts is stunting, because the blood-sucking worms deplete micronutrients in the body. A child with schistosomiasis is likely to suffer from malaria easily. And then we have evidence of bladder cancer when people grow older. In the past, many people didn't consider schistosomiasis as the disease which can affect children under the age of six. Around 2010, researchers working on schistosomiasis started shouting about: "Hey guys, even children under the age of six contract schistosomiasis. They play in the same environment. They go with their parents in their farms, so they are equally exposed. So it's worth considering these folks in the treatment programme." So it took over 12 years to gather evidence, interact with public health specialists, everyone to contribute their thinking. And that demonstrates the commitment the Wellcome Trust has in advancing public health in the world. Now under-six children are being properly included in the guidance. It's my duty to study the problems of our people. We developed the project which had several phases. We are terribly excited as a team, being among the very first public health institutions in the world to deliver the new drug to its citizens. When we received the first consignment of the new drug, it was like a far-fetched dream. When we look at the old praziquantel compared to the paediatric tablets, the biggest difference, number one, is the size. Number two is how easy it is for the tablet to dissolve. The old praziquantel doesn't dissolve easily in water. The new formulation dissolves very quickly. The other biggest difference is the taste. The old praziquantel is bitter. The new formulation for paediatrics is sweet. Kids are swallowing the medicine without any problem. You don't see them squeezing their face because of the taste. The consortium which develops the new drug is called the Paediatric Praziquantel Consortium. The consortium has successfully closed the treatment gap, and it is one of the best milestones ever. All these things have been made possible because of partnership. By treating schistosomiasis at the early ages, it improves the health, well-being of the children and their growth. So they would develop well. They will reach their full potential and be good citizens. There's still a lot of work to be done, mostly on community education; there's the social intervention. That's number one. So I'm not a kind of researcher who would want to sit in the office all the time. I've done community engagement. I've gone to all the sites. The community members, most of them aren't aware of the life cycle of schistosomiasis. You see a colony of snails. I'm trying to see whether we may have an active transmission. So now we have a strategy involving a community of workers. They hold meetings. They speak about the symptoms of schistosomiasis in children and take the children to treatment. Maswali NgelelaI'm very happy because I received education about schistosomiasis. And my family has received treatment and were given medication. I hope to live a life free from disease, free from schistosomiasis. And my family will live a very good life. Paul KazyobaWe're already seeing the impact, the demand. The community is happy. The intervention has reached the target and we are collecting more evidence to help our government and other countries in the region. So it's a great moment and is one of the biggest milestones in my career. Globally, around 250 million people are affected by schistosomiasis, with roughly 90 percent of cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the huge numbers at risk, the disease has long been underfunded and underprioritised. There’s no vaccine and only one treatment. The disease is caused by parasitic worms whose larvae are released into freshwater by infected snails. When people come into contact with contaminated water, the larvae penetrate the skin, enter the bloodstream and mature into adult worms. The worms lay eggs that can cause inflammation and long-term damage to organs. Some eggs are passed in urine or faeces, where they can contaminate freshwater sources and continue the transmission cycle. Transmission is therefore closely linked to inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. For years the sole drug that can clear people of worms – praziquantel – was largely given only to adults and over-fives. Its safety hadn’t been established in younger children, who also weren’t deemed to be at high risk from schistosomiasis. “There was originally this idea that the burden was highest in those that are over five,” says Sally Nicholas, head of vector control and therapeutics at Wellcome. This was a mistake. In communities with lots of water contact, children “all face the same risk” regardless of age, says Kazyoba. In fact, because younger children’s skin isn’t as strong, they are especially vulnerable to infection. Catching schistosomiasis young can cause life-long problems. The worms deplete micronutrients, stunting growth and causing anaemia, and infections can lead to bladder cancer when children get older. “There’s also vulnerability to other infectious diseases, because your body’s immune defence system becomes weak,” Kazyoba says. A child with schistosomiasis is more likely to suffer from malaria, for example. In endemic regions, parents live in constant fear of their children falling ill. “My wife was deeply upset and worried about why our children kept getting sick,” says Maswali, reflecting on his children’s infections. “It was very painful for the family.” From the turn of the millennium, evidence was building that preschool-aged children were getting the disease. This included the Wellcome-funded SIMI cohort study that ran between 2008 and 2012 in Uganda, which clearly showed that preschoolers were catching schistosomiasis. Subsequent research in Malawi reinforced this. This contributed to the World Health Organization shifting its policy in 2010–11 to recommend that preschool-aged children be included in treatment programmes. But this underlined another problem: there wasn’t a form of praziquantel suitable for preschool-aged children. By now studies had shown the drug was safe to give to the very young and that it cleared them of parasites. But praziquantel came as a 600 mg tablet. This dose is too large for infants, and very young children can’t swallow pills. “Among children under the age of six, we were breaking the tablet into four, and then crushing it,” Kazyoba recalls of early efforts to treat preschoolers. The powder was then dissolved in water, but this resulted in an unpalatable, bitter medicine. “Children don’t eat bitter things,” Kazyoba says. “They want to eat something which is sweet.” With a clear unmet need, industry and public organisations came together to find a solution, also with the support of international funders such as the European Union (through EDCTP) and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund - backed by the Government of Japan, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust and others – and worked together to implement the programme of thePediatric Praziquantel Consortiumwhich was established in 2012. Having this medicine is only part of the solution. “The effort will be worthless if the uptake is low,” Kazyoba says. For this reason he is leading a UN-backed project called STEPPS – Strategies for the Delivery and Evaluation of Paediatric Praziquantel in Schistosomiasis – to ensure the drug has the biggest possible impact. The programme is training health workers in Tanzania on schistosomiasis, integrating diagnosis and treatment into routine health services, and testing the best ways to deliver paediatric praziquantel, such as through test-and-treat programmes or preschool mass drug administration. Moving care into routine services will make diagnosis and treatment more consistent – but this only works if staff are trained and tools are available. On top of figuring out how best to deliver the treatment, STEPPS is also educating the public about schistosomiasis, and in particular about infections in the very young – “knowledge that in the past was completely lacking,” says Kazyoba. This community engagement work is helping people take practical steps to protect themselves – such as wearing boots and protective clothing when exposed to water. It’s also helping parents seek care quicker when children present with symptoms. Uptake of paediatric praziquantel is higher in areas where public engagement has been done, Kazyoba says. For Maswali’s community, STEPPS has been transformative. Health workers visit homes, inspect families’ living conditions, advise on water use, diagnose illness and provide treatment. “In the past, people relied on traditional remedies. Today they visit health centres and receive proper treatment and advice,” he says. “They also educate the community about schistosomiasis prevention and discourage children from playing in contaminated water,” says Maswali. He has now chosen to wear protective gear while farming. “We are already seeing the impact, the demand, and the community is happy,” says Kazyoba, who estimates close to 8,000 children received praziquantel during the first six months of STEPPS. “The intervention has reached the target, and we are collecting more evidence to help our government and other countries in the region to emulate what we have done.”

Company offers portfolio of treatment options and expert guidance following first confirmed case in the United States New World screwworm has officially reached the United States, with the first confirmed case in U.S. livestock in Texasi New World screwworm can infest any warm-blooded animals – including livestock and pets – posing a significant threat to animal health, welfare, and producer livelihood Elanco offers a portfolio of options for both livestock and pets that can treat infestations caused by New World screwworm larvae INDIANAPOLIS , June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) today reaffirms its commitment to providing veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners with resources and treatment options for their animals against the escalating threat posed by New World screwworm (NWS). The fly recently reached the United States, with the first case confirmed in U.S. livestock in Texas.i The emergence of New World screwworm in the U.S. creates a threat for veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners that has not been seen north of the Florida Keys since the fly was eradicated from the United States more than 50 years ago.ii New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae feed on living tissue and can affect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and even humans.ii "New World screwworm could have a devastating impact on animal health, welfare, and producer livelihoods," said Jeff Simmons, President and CEO, Elanco Animal Health. "We want to thank the FDA, EPA and USDA, for all their work to prepare for this threat. We're committed to supporting our customers during this challenging time by delivering innovation, scientific expertise, and available resources to help treat New World screwworm and support the health and well-being of animals." With more than 70 years of animal health experience, including helping mitigate, prevent and treat New World screwworm in other parts of the world, Elanco is working alongside the U.S. animal health industry to help them fight against this parasite, offering a portfolio of options for pets and livestock that can help treat New World screwworm larvae infestations. Available Elanco Treatment and/or Prevention Options Negasunt Powder and Tanidil will be available only through the U.S. Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) and its National Veterinary Stockpile. They will be distributed in coordination with state animal health officials and federally recognized tribal agencies. In the near future, APHIS will share additional information about the requirements for use, including tracking and reporting requirements and required safety and personal protective equipment. As New World screwworm enters the United States, Elanco is committed to working alongside producers as they continuously evolve management practices and to help them implement prevention and treatment protocols to use the right product at the right time. To learn more about Elanco's ongoing efforts and historical perspective on New World screwworm, please visit our previous coverage: Elanco's Negasunt™ Powder (Coumaphos, Propoxur, Sulfanilamide Topical Powder) and Tanidil™ (Coumaphos, Propoxur) Receive Emergency Authorization for Use Against New World Screwworm in Livestock Elanco's Credelio Quattro™-CA1 (lotilaner, moxidectin, praziquantel, and pyrantel chewable tablets) Receives First FDA Conditional Approval for Treatment of New World Screwworm in Dogs Elanco's Credelio™ CAT (lotilaner) Receives First FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Treatment of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Cats Elanco's Credelio™ (lotilaner) Receives First Ever FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) against New World Screwworm (NWS) in Dogs To learn more about New World screwworm (NWS) using the following resources: USDA NWS Alert and Fact Sheet NCBA NWS Resources FDA Information for Veterinarians on NWS About Elanco Animal Health Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders and society as a whole. With 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to breaking boundaries and going beyond to help our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People. Learn more at . Indications for Credelio Quattro/Credelio Quattro-CA1 Credelio Quattro is indicated for the prevention of heartworm disease and the treatment and control of roundworm, hookworm, and tapeworm infections. Credelio Quattro kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations and the treatment and control of tick infestations for 1 month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 3.3 pounds or greater. Credelio Quattro is indicated for the prevention of Lyme disease infections as a direct result of killing black-legged ticks. Credelio Quattro-CA1 is conditionally approved for the treatment of infestations caused by New World screwworm (NWS) larvae in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 3.3 pounds or greater. Important Safety Information for Credelio Quattro/Credelio Quattro-CA1 Lotilaner, an ingredient in Credelio Quattro/Credelio Quattro-CA1, belongs to the isoxazoline class and has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions like tremors, incoordination, and seizures even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. Dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections before Credelio Quattro/Credelio Quattro-CA1 administration as it is not effective against adult heartworms. The safe use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in clinical trials were vomiting and diarrhea. Credelio Quattro-CA1 is conditionally approved by the FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under application number 141-619. If you suspect that your dog is infested with NWS larvae, seek veterinary care immediately for treatment to include removal of larvae and appropriate wound care. For complete safety information, please see the Credelio Quattro/Credelio Quattro-CA1 product label or ask your veterinarian. Emergency Use Authorization of Credelio (lotilaner) Chewable Tablets for New World Screwworm (NWS) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of the approved product Credelio (lotilaner) chewable tablets for the treatment of infestations caused by NWS (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) in dogs and puppies. Credelio is not approved for this use. Credelio (lotilaner) is approved for other uses in dogs and puppies. For additional information on the EUA, please refer to the Credelio NWS Fact Sheet . Limitations of Authorized Use Credelio (lotilaner) chewable tablets is authorized for this use only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of Credelio (lotilaner) chewable tablets under section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. Indications for Credelio Credelio kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations and treatment and control of tick infestations (lone star tick, American dog tick, black-legged tick, brown dog tick, and longhorned tick) for one month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks and older and 4.4 pounds or greater. Credelio is indicated for the prevention of Lyme disease infections as a direct result of killing black-legged ticks. Important Safety Information for Credelio Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class of drugs. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, incoordination, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving this class of drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea nitrogen, increased urination, and diarrhea. For complete safety information, please see Credelio product label or ask your veterinarian. Emergency Use Authorization for Credelio CAT (lotilaner) for New World Screwworm (NWS) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of the approved product Credelio CAT (lotilaner) for the treatment of infestations caused by NWS (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiasis) in cats and kittens. Credelio CAT is not approved for this use. Credelio CAT is approved for other uses. For additional information on the EUA, please refer to the Credelio Cat NWS Fact Sheet. Limitations of Authorized Use Credelio CAT (lotilaner) is authorized for this use only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of Credelio CAT (lotilaner) under section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. Indications for Credelio CAT Credelio CAT kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations for one month in cats and kittens 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 2 pounds or greater. Credelio CAT is also indicated for treatment and control of black-legged tick infestations for one month in cats and kittens 6 months of age and older and weighing 2 pounds or greater. Important Safety Information for Credelio CAT Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class of drugs. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, incoordination and seizures. Neurologic adverse reactions have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline class drugs, even in cats without a history of neurologic disorders. Use with caution in cats with a history of neurologic disorders. The safety of Credelio CAT has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats. The effectiveness of Credelio CAT against black-legged ticks in kittens less than 6 months of age has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, rapid breathing and vomiting. For complete safety information, please see Credelio CAT product label or ask your veterinarian. Emergency Use Authorization of Negasunt Powder (coumaphos, propoxur, and sulfanilamide topical powder) for New World Screwworm (NWS) WARNING: Neurotoxicity. Read full Fact Sheet for complete information. Coumaphos and propoxur can cause neurotoxicity. May be fatal if swallowed. May be fatal if inhaled. Harmful if absorbed through skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Do not breathe dust. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, or clothing. Use only with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE): coveralls worn over long-sleeve shirt and long pants, shoes, socks, and protective eyewear; chemical-resistant gloves made of barrier laminate, butyl rubber (≥ 14 mils), nitrile rubber (≥14 mils), neoprene rubber (>14 mils), natural rubber (≥14 mils), polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ≥14 mils, or Viton (>14 mils); and a minimum of a NIOSH-approved elastomeric half mask respirator consisting of protection factor (PF) 10 fitted with organic vapor (OV) cartridges and combination R or P filters; or a NIOSH-approved gas mask with OV canisters; or a NIOSH-approved powered air purifying respirator with OV cartridges and combination HE filters. This product is toxic to mammals, birds, fish, and aquatic invertebrates. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of the unapproved product Negasunt Powder for the prevention and treatment of infestations caused by New World screwworm (Cochliomyia homnivorax) larvae (myiasis) in cattle, swine, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, domestic hybrid equids, and captive wild, exotic, and zoo mammals. Negasunt Powder is not approved for this use. For use by employees of federal, state, local, and federally recognized tribal agencies, and persons working under their authority and at their direction. Also for use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian in NWS infested zones and adjacent surveillance zones as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). For additional information on the EUA and for complete safety information, please refer to the  Negasunt Powder NWS Fact Sheet. Limitations of Authorized Use It is a violation of federal law to use this drug product other than as directed in the authorized Fact Sheet. Treated animals must not be slaughtered for human consumption within 28 days of the last treatment. A milk discard time has not been established for this product; do not use in animals producing milk for human consumption. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in pre-ruminating calves; treated calves and calves born to treated cows must not be processed for veal. Do not use in horses intended for human consumption. Do not use in domestic indoor pets (e.g., dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits) nor in residences. Do not use in birds. Do not use in free-ranging wildlife. To avoid overexposure, each individual person cannot treat more than 3 large wounds (>2 inches diameter) a day or more than 30 small superficial wounds (≤2 inches diameter) a day (or an equivalent thereof) with Negasunt Powder or any other coumaphos-containing products. Negasunt Powder is authorized for this use only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of Negasunt Powder under section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or the authorization is revoked sooner. Federal law prohibits the extra-label use of this drug. Additional Important Safety Information Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. Only handlers wearing required PPE may be in the area during application. Do not apply in a confined, non-ventilated area; provide thorough ventilation. Call a poison control center or doctor immediately for treatment advice if Negusant Powder is swallowed, inhaled, on skin or clothing, or in eyes. Sulfonamides are contraindicated in animals that are hypersensitive to them and in animals with severe renal or hepatic impairment. For external use only on animals. Do not contaminate water, feed, troughs, feed handling equipment, or milk or meat handling equipment. Use with caution in very young, weak, or debilitated animals. In the case of overdose, treat with atropine sulfate or pralidoxine chloride (2-PAM) as soon as possible. The most common adverse reactions associated with organophosphate and carbamate toxicity in animals include frequent urination and defecation, muscle twitching, and watering eyes. Important Information about Tanidil Tanidil™ is an unregistered product for distribution and use only under a Section 18 emergency exemption. The Section 18 labeling must be in the possession of the user at the time of pesticide application. This product may only be used to prevent or control New World screwworm in and on animal wounds on labeled animal host species. For use only by federal, state, local, and federally recognized tribal agencies, and persons working under their supervision; personnel at quarantine stations and areas; veterinarians; veterinarians or certified applicators at livestock and game facilities, zoos, wildlife facilities, animal rehabilitation centers; and wildlife professionals. Read the entire label. This product must be used strictly in accordance with this label's precautionary statements and use directions, as well as with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Please visit the Tanidil fact sheet for more information. Use Period: This exemption is effective on April 27, 2026 and expires on April 27, 2029. No applications of Tanidil may be made under the emergency exemption before its effective date or after its expiration date. Credelio, Credelio Quattro, Negasunt, Tanidil, Catron, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. © 2026 Elanco or its affiliates Investor Contact: Tiffany Kanaga (765) 740-0314 [email protected] Media Contact: Colleen Parr Dekker (317) 989-7011 [email protected] Media Contact: Mika Takahashi (765) 335-4070 [email protected] Media Contact: Season Solorio (765) 316-0233 [email protected]   SOURCE Elanco Animal Health 21% more press release views with Request a Demo