Kinetoplastid Portfolio

The kinetoplastid portfolio aims to develop much needed new medicines for Chagas disease. Chagas disease is a chronic disease that results from infection with Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan parasites. It affects millions of people in Latin America and beyond, and is a major cause of debilitating, and sometimes deadly, heart disease.

Portfolio overview

Our work in Chagas disease ranges from basic biology to pre-candidate selection. Main areas of activity are:

→ Study of persister parasites. Parasites that are less susceptible to drug treatment are a key challenge in Chagas disease drug discovery. We aim to better understand their biology, to find markers of the persister state and find new targets for these forms.

→ New methodologies to improve the drug discovery path for Chagas disease: a major aim is to better understand the compound profiles required for Chagas drugs, this includes the in vitro profile, mode-of-action, and in vivo understanding of PK/PD drivers. We use a science-directed approach to achieve this, often through development and implementation of new methods and approaches.

→ The 4WAY001 series is our most advanced series, which shows clinical level efficacy in an animal model of chronic Chagas disease and we are working towards identifying a pre-clinical candidate in this series. This project is being conducted in collaboration with GSK, DNDi and the University of Washington. We have also identified multiple other series that act through the same promising mode-ofaction which provide backup for 4WAY001.

→ New award from Wellcome to continue Chagas disease drug discovery

→ Advanced leads developed for 4WAY001 series and multiple series identified with same promising mode of action

“I knew from an early age that neglected diseases were something that I wished to pursue. I remember being curious about people with infectious diseases and used to think why were they not treated past a certain point? I discovered some of the diseases did not have treatments. Once at University then it became clear that to be working within Drug Discovery for Neglected Diseases would be a route worthy of my time and effort and be in line with my passion.”

Erika, DMPK

“Chagas disease is a truly neglected disease and drug discovery is extremely challenging. The progress we are making is very exciting, and I hope that one day we can deliver new treatments to a population that really needs them.”

Michael, Chemistry lead

“I like working in DDU because it combines stateof-the-art facilities and an international working environment in one of the top liveable places in Scotland. I also enjoy working surrounded by excellent researchers who are always willing to collaborate with each other.”

Marta, Parasitologist

“The highlight of the year for me is the that the parasitology team were able to pull together and generate a lot of data for key projects despite the difficult set of circumstances in 2022. The main reasons I like working at the DDU are that I get to work with parasites, which I continue to find fascinating, and be part of a multi-disciplinary team with the common goal of finding new treatments for NTD. I also really like working with people from all over the world.”

Lorna, Team Leader Parasitology

Visceral leishmaniasis - GSK899/DDU651

Visceral leishmaniasis – GSK245/DDU143

Chagas disease – 4WAY001

Chagas disease – 4WAYbackups

Chagas disease- multiple series

Funders and Consortia