Phastar Offers Pro Bono Support to Medicines Development for Global Health

Phastar Offers Pro Bono Support to Medicines Development for Global Health

Supporting medicine development for disadvantaged communities

London, UK, and Durham (NC), US – 26^th October 2023: Phastar, a global specialist biometrics contract research organization (CRO), is offering pro bono support to Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH), a not-for-profit organization developing medicines for neglected diseases primarily affecting people living in low- and middle-income countries.

As part of the Phastar Cares scheme, MDGH has pro bono access to the company’s biometrics experts as it conducts two large double-blind Phase IIIb clinical studies at sites in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d’Ivoire. One trial is evaluating the safety of moxidectin and the second is evaluating repeat single dosing compared with ivermectin in individuals living in onchocerciasis (river blindness) endemic areas.  

Graham Clark, CEO at Phastar, said: At Phastar, we have the expertise and the resources to make a meaningful difference and to deliver on our mission to improve human health. As a B Corp^TM organization, we strive to be a force for good, and one of our strategic objectives is to lead the CRO industry in corporate social responsibility.

“The Phastar Cares Scheme, which offers free access to our statisticians, data scientists, data managers, and programmers, is an important part of that commitment. We are proud to be in a position to help MDGH on their mission to eradicate onchocerciasis.”

Onchocerciasis is currently controlled through annual or biannual preventive community directed treatment. Moxidectin has been shown to be significantly superior to the current treatment in Phase II and Phase III efficacy clinical trials, with both medicines having similar safety profiles.

The impact of moxidectin on onchocerciasis transmission elimination has been extensively studied in mathematical models and the data suggests annual or biannual administration of moxidectin, as an alternative to the current standard of care, could significantly accelerate transmission elimination.

In 2018, MDGH received FDA approval for moxidectin as a single 8 milligram dose for treatment of onchocerciasis in people 12 years of age and older with efforts underway to expand the indication to children as young as 4 years. The current double-blind Phase IIIb study of more than 12,000 participants is an important step in progressing moxidectin for onchocerciasis to achieve World Health Organization guideline inclusion.

The recent milestone of completing recruitment resulted in the need for a substantial review of the statistical analysis plan and associated documents for data management. Phastar’s biostatistics experts, through the Phastar Cares pro bono scheme, reviewed the statistical analysis plan against the protocol primary and secondary objectives and developed and drafted planned outputs to ensure they meet the stated objectives of the protocol and MDGH’s objectives.

Mark Sullivan, Founder and Managing Director of MDGH, said: “Developing medicines for neglected diseases for disadvantaged communities is an expensive and complicated process. The support of the Phastar Cares scheme is such a wonderful way for us to access Phastar’s expertise and we greatly appreciate their extraordinarily generous and helpful contribution.

“More than 200 million people live in areas of Africa which are endemic for onchocerciasis, a serious, debilitating and stigmatizing neglected infectious disease. Moxidectin is the first new medicine registered for the treatment of onchocerciasis in more than 20 years. The data resulting from MDGH’s current study is critical to enabling the World Health Organization (WHO) to decide on moxidectin’s role in the treatment guidelines on which many countries rely.”

Phastar Cares is a pro bono scheme allowing charities to access Phastar’s biometrics experts at no cost. For more information visit phastar.com/cares#probono

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About PHASTAR

PHASTAR is a global specialist biometrics contract research organization offering leading data management, data science, statistical consulting, and clinical trial reporting services by providing expert consultants and managing and delivering in-house projects, FSP-style arrangements, and preferred partnerships. PHASTAR currently has 14 offices around the world with plans to open additional locations in the future to serve prospective and existing clients. Our number one priority is ensuring on time, quality work: every project undertaken is supervised on methodology and utilizes internal processes designed to guarantee optimal quality, inspired by 4,000 years accumulated technical experience across the company.

For further information on PHASTAR contact tellmemore@phastar.com

About Medicines Development for Global Health

Medicines Development for Global Health is a not-for-profit, independent biopharmaceutical organisation, dedicated to the development and delivery of new and improved medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries.

In 2018 MDGH achieved US FDA approval of moxidectin for the treatment of river blindness (onchocerciasis) and is currently developing moxidectin for the treatment of several other neglected tropical diseases. In 2020, the company secured global rights to dovramilast, a treatment that holds promise in tackling tuberculosis and leprosy type 2 reaction.

Further information is available at www.medicinesdevelopment.com

The Phase IIIb clinical studies are funded as part of the MoxiMultiDoseMod project.  This project is part of the EDCTP2 Programme supported by the European Union.

About moxidectin

Moxidectin is an oral antiparasitic medicine under investigation for several parasitic diseases caused by worms and arthropods.

Moxidectin was approved in 2018 by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of onchocerciasis in people aged 12 years and older. Medicines Development for Global Health developed moxidectin for onchocerciasis in partnership with the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR).