A committee of experts under the European Medicines Agency has recommended approval of the drug acoziborole for the treatment of sleeping sickness.
The recommendation is an important step before the medicine can be widely used, including in Congo, where most cases are found.
The treatment consists of three tablets taken at the same time. This marks a significant difference from previous therapies, which could last up to 10 days and required hospitalization.
In a 2023 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases involving around 200 patients in Congo and Guinea, more than 95 percent were considered cured 18 months after treatment, according to Powers Health.
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The pharmaceutical company Sanofi has also pledged to donate the medicine to the World Health Organization so that patients can receive it free of charge.
A dangerous disease
Sleeping sickness, also known as African trypanosomiasis, is transmitted through bites from tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the CDC.
The disease often begins with symptoms resembling influenza. Later, the parasite can attack the brain.
This can lead to confusion, behavioral changes, and severe illness. Without treatment, it can be fatal.
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Previous treatments have been both harsh and complicated. They often required spinal taps and hospitalization, posing a challenge in areas with limited access to hospitals.
Fewer infections
The number of cases has declined significantly in recent years. According to Powers Health, the figure fell below 10,000 in 2009 for the first time in 50 years.
In 2024, fewer than 600 cases of the most widespread type were recorded.
The World Health Organization aims to stop transmission by 2030. If the new pill works as hoped, it could become an important step toward that goal.
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Sources: Powers Health, The Lancet Infectious diseases, and CDC.
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