New treatment for Leishmaniasis

(Boston University, November 07, 2013)

Leishmaniasis is a sand fly–borne illness afflicting 12 million people worldwide, leaving them with disfiguring skin lesions that scar for life, requiring painful, burning injections or IV infusions to cure. Researchers from Boston University who are developing compounds active against the Leishmania parasite are among eight winners of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) first Discovery Fast Track Competition, which seeks promising ideas for future drugs. Scott Schaus, associate professor of chemistry and one of the winners, says he's looking forward to working with GSK on the drug candidates: "Boston University has the chemistry expertise to be able to develop compounds that are effective. GSK has the drug development expertise to be able to move this forward.”