Moxidectin: an ally to ivermectin for treating Strongyloides stercoralis?

Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis infection has long been neglected by the scientific community, despite the threat it poses to the individual and collective health. 1 Krolewiecki AJ Lammie P Jacobson J et al. A public health response against Strongyloides stercoralis: time to look at soil-transmitted helminthiasis in full. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013; 7e2165 Crossref PubMed Scopus (97) Google Scholar In 2020, WHO included this infection in its public health targets for 2030, 2 Montresor A Mupfasoni D Mikhailov A et al. The global progress of soil-transmitted helminthiases control in 2020 and World Health Organization targets for 2030. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020; 14e0008505 Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar pointing out that control measures for strongyloidiasis are of paramount importance in endemic countries. This target might necessitate the massive use of ivermectin, the only drug, effective in a single dose, that can contribute to decisively decreasing the prevalence of this deadly parasite. 3 Henriquez-Camacho C Gotuzzo E Echevarria J et al. Ivermectin versus albendazole or thiabendazole for Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016; 2016CD007745 Google Scholar Efficacy and safety of ascending doses of moxidectin against Strongyloides stercoralis infections in adults: a randomised, parallel-group, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2a trial4–12 mg of moxidectin showed promising tolerability and efficacy profiles in the treatment of S stercoralis infections in adults. Because 8 mg of moxidectin is used for the treatment of onchocerciasis and has been evaluated for other helminth infections, we recommend this dose for phase 2b and phase 3 trials of strongyloidiasis therapy. Full-Text PDF