Treating Cryptosporidium Caused Infectious Diseases

SLU ID 23-006| 1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amines as anti-infectious agents

Background

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite responsible for the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis, which causes life-threatening diarrhea in infants worldwide and incurable diarrhea in AIDS and transplant patients. It is the most common cause of waterborne diarrheal outbreaks in the United States and Europe. Currently, the best treatment for human cryptosporidiosis is nitazoxanide, which is only about 56 percent effective in children and comparable to placebos in AIDS patients. There is a need for new and more effective drugs than what is currently available on the market.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis Univeristy have discovered novel compounds that have demonstrated submicromolar potency against Cryptosporidium Parvym during in vitro testing and efficacy in a mouse infection model. The lead compound has a potency that is approximately 10-fold greater in vitro than nitazoxanide. These compounds have the potential to be utilized as drugs to treat cryptosporidiosis and may be more effective than current market offerings.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• increasing efficacy of treatments for cryptosporidiosis

• minimizing patient recovery time

• minimizing infant mortality caused by cryptosporidiosis

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include treating cryptosporidium-caused infectious diseases.

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking a partner to further develop and commercialize this technology.