Bayer, WHO collaborate to combat taeniasis, neurocystercosis

With praziquantel (“Biltricide”) and niclosamide (“Yomesan”) Bayer will provide two effective treatments, which are part of the latest WHO Model List of the Essential Medicines 2019 for the treatment of Taeniasis.

New Delhi: Bayer and the World Health Organization (WHO) now cooperate to combat taeniasis and neurocystercosis, the main preventable cause of epilepsy in developing countries.

“We need to prevent and control T. solium infections of humans and pigs to eliminate taeniasis,” said Dr Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, WHO Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. “Our collaboration with Bayer will greatly strengthen our proposed integrated approach spanning veterinary and human health and environmental sectors.”

The intestinal infection caused by adult tapeworms T. solium is estimated to cause more than 28 000 deaths per year in the developing world, translating into 2.79 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). One DALY can be thought of as one lost year of “healthy” life. Taeniasis and cysticercosis have now been added to the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030.

“Bayer is committed to patients suffering from Neglected Tropical Diseases,” said Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of its Pharmaceuticals Division. “The WHO and their goal to control and eliminate these diseases need our support to help patients in the world’s poorest, most marginalized and most remote communities. As the manufacturer of two effective medicines for the treatment of taeniasis we feel obliged to support the new goal of WHO to better serve the patients suffering from this disease.”

While the adult tapeworm in the human intestine does not have major health impacts, humans can develop cysticercosis with tapeworm larvae (cysticerci) in the muscles, skin, eyes and the central nervous system, with the possible devastating effects on health. When cysts develop in the brain, the condition is referred to as neurocysticercosis.

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As with other neglected tropical diseases, infections with T. solium are entirely preventable using existing medicines and interventions. With praziquantel (“Biltricide”) and niclosamide (“Yomesan”) Bayer will provide two effective treatments, which are part of the latest WHO Model List of the Essential Medicines 2019 for the treatment of Taeniasis.

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