Tulane University and 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Partner to Study Tick-Borne Infections

Tulane University and 60 Degrees Entered into a Research Agreement

Announcement

Leading pharmaceutical company, 60 degrees pharmaceuticals, known for its sharp focus on the development of new medicines for infectious diseases, has signed a research agreement with Tulane University to monitor the activity of tafenoquine against the vector-borne bacteria, Bartonella and Borrelia (Lyme disease), in a cell culture. Along with babesia, these three pathogens are abbreviated as 3Bs in the lyme disease group.

Acute Lyme Disease and Drug

Borreliosis (acute Lyme disease) is caused due to Borrelia SPP infection. This infection causes a condition called post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD). Prescribers describe that the recovery from PTLD is restrained by the current presence of low levels of Bartonella and Babesia SPP in the body. From this species, any one individual might cause sickness with underlying symptoms.

Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drug that has received drug approval for malaria prophylaxis in the United States, product named ARAKODA®. The safety measures of the tafenoquine approved for malaria prophylaxis have been evaluated by six different randomized, active/ placebo-controlled trials for a timeframe of 12 months. The drug has not yet proved an effective treatment for babesiosis or Bartonella/Borrelia, and has also not received any approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

History of ARAKODA® (tafenoquine)

The drug was found by Walter reed army institute of research. In 2018 in the United States this drug was approved for malaria prophylaxis, popular as ARAKODA® and KODATEF® in Australia. Both were launched on commercial platform in 2019 and is distributed via pharmaceutical wholesaler networks in various countries. Drugs are also accessible at retail pharmacies under a prescription only for malaria prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hypothesize that the potential of tafenoquine is 16 days, and also advantage the dosing for the prophylaxis of malaria. The ARAKODA is not effective for everyone; one must consider the safety information before use. The ARAKODA should not be directed to psychotic individuals and breastfeeding lactating women, especially if the infant is showing G6PD deficiency or absence of one.

Views and Statements

Chief executive officer of 60 degrees pharma, Geoff Dow, said, “This study intends to boost the understanding of these growing tick-borne diseases that need effective approved treatments. Tafenoquine is committed to leveraging performance in babesiosis trials in various sites. The study of Tulane University will illustrate tafenoquine’s potential for mainly treating co-infections in patients with babesiosis.”