by Ngwewondo A, Scandale I, Specht S. Parasitology Research 2021. doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07307-4
Summary: Control programmes have made tremendous efforts in the management of onchocerciasis by mass drug administration and aerial larviciding; however, disease elimination is not yet achieved. In the new WHO roadmap, it is recognized that new macrofilaricidal drugs or drug regimens (that kill or permanently sterilize adult filarial worms) would significantly improve elimination timelines and accelerate the achievement of the program goal of disease elimination. In this review, the authors summarize recent advances in the late preclinical or early clinical stage in the search for a potent macrofilaricide, including drugs against the nematode and against its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis.