Development of novel, boron-containing small molecules for the treatment of Chagas disease

A single oral pill could replace the painful, weeks-long injections currently used to treat Chagas disease. This parasitic infection, spread by blood-sucking insects, affects millions of people across Latin America and beyond. The two existing drugs require prolonged treatment courses, cause severe side effects, and often fail to cure the chronic stage of the disease. Many patients abandon therapy as a result. This project aims to deliver a new compound, ready for Phase 2 clinical trials, that overcomes these shortcomings. The researchers are designing small molecules containing boron—a chemical element rarely used in antiparasitic drugs—to kill the *Trypanosoma cruzi* parasite more effectively and safely. They will use Target Product Profiles, a set of formal criteria based on patient needs, to guide development toward a once-daily oral medication with minimal toxicity. If successful, this compound could become the first modern treatment for Chagas disease that is both highly effective and practical to administer in resource-limited settings. It would replace a failing standard of care with a therapy patients can actually complete, potentially preventing the heart and digestive complications that kill tens of thousands of people each year.