Trial on new Cryptococcal Meningitis Treatment in Malawi, Tanzania rolls out

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative has rolled out phase 2 clinical trial in Malawi and Tanzania to test new treatment for cryptococal meningitis which is a painful, deadly brain infection and second leading cause of HIV related deaths

The Organisation says abrupt termination of Global Health foreign aid has placed millions of people living with HIV-65 percent of whom are in Africa at serious risk

UNAIDS warns that these cuts could lead to 6.3 million additional AIDS related deaths in the coming years.

In a press release the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative says unlike the current cryptococal meningitis treatment requiring four daily doses the new formulation simplifies treatment to just two doses a day

Senior communications manager for DNDI Edith Magak says the treatment also comes in an easy to administer pellet form that can be taken with water or via a tube crucial for critically ill patients who often arrive at hospital unconscious