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Oxfendazole Development Group Receives Grant from Open Philanthropy

The Oxfendazole Development Group (ODG) announces that it has received a grant of $1.6 million from Open Philanthropy (https://www.openphilanthropy.org/) to carry out nonclinical toxicology studies on oxfendazole, a veterinary deworming medicine that it is developing for human use.  Having successfully completed Phase 1 Single Ascending Dose (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) studies of oxfendazole through a collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, ODG is embarking on a series of toxicology studies needed to broaden scientific understanding of oxfendazole’s potential effects.  The Open Philanthropy award will allow ODG to carry out these studies concurrently with the conduct of a Phase 2 Proof of Concept (PoC) study in Peruvian patients infected with the soil transmitted helminth Trichuris trichiura (whipworm).

The toxicology studies are designed to update scientific understanding of oxfendazole toxicity as compared to work carried out decades earlier as part of its registration as a veterinary deworming medicine and to clarify certain findings observed in our own more recent nonclinical studies.

Why is oxfendazole needed when many deworming campaigns are already carried out around the world? Parasitic worms infect 24% of the world’s population, and the disabilities inflicted, especially on affected children (such as stunted grown, anemia, and cognitive disability), motivate these campaigns, but the limitations of the currently available medicines leave many treated children still wormy.  For example, while albendazole has a high cure rate for Ascaris (large roundworm) infections, it is poorly effective against Trichuris trichiura.

ODG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to develop the deworming medicine oxfendazole for use against human dwelling parasitic worms, debilitating infections that are common in resource-poor regions of the world.

Open Philanthropy is a philanthropic organization that aims to use its resources to help others as much as possible.

Most recent publications:

Human Phase I SAD study: the results of the Phase I Single Ascending Dose (SAD) study of oxfendazole are now published.  See the safety profile and pharmacokinetics of oxfendazole in healthy volunteers: publication Phase I SAD study

Human Phase I MAD study: the results of the Phase I Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) study of oxfendazole are now published.  See the safety profile and pharmacokinetics of oxfendazole  following its multiple dose administration in healthy volunteers: Oxfendazole MAD study 2020

Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model of oxfendazole in healthy adults: POP PK/PD model of oxfendazole in healthy adults, created using data from the MAD and food effect clinical studies.pop PK/PD pub

Preclinical review: Our review of the evidence of oxfendazole’s safety and efficacy against both gut and tissue dwelling parasitic worms in animals, as well as more recent safety and pharmacokinetic data, supporting oxfendazole’s investigation for use as an anthelmintic in humans.  Read our review:  oxfendazole expert review