Astellas and DNDi to collaborate on drug discovery

Astellas and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) are to carry out collaborative research into tropical illnesses.

The agreement will see Astellas provide DNDi with a selection of original compounds that will be screened at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Switzerland to assess their potential as new anti-protozoan candidates for three targeted diseases.

Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness have been chosen as the focus areas for this collaboration, as these three conditions affect nearly ten million people worldwide.

DNDi has been selected as Astellas' first partner under new plans to expand into the field of neglected tropical disease.

Dr Shinichi Tsukamoto, senior vice-president of Astellas' drug discovery research, said: "Astellas believes that this joint research method leads to the early entry into the development stage of new potential agents if promising compounds are identified as candidates."

Earlier this month, the company announced the European launch of Dificlir, a new treatment for Clostridium difficile infections developed in collaboration with Optimer Pharmaceuticals.