New pediatric formula for Chagas disease treatment developed in Brazil

"A new pediatric formulation developed in Brazil holds out hope for a cure for over 90 percent of newborn babies infected with Chagas disease, a parasitic infection endemic in 21 Latin American countries, where it kills more people every year than malaria," Inter Press Service reports. "The new pediatric dosage form of benznidazole, which has just been approved for registration by Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), was developed by the Pernambuco State Pharmaceutical Laboratory (LAFEPE) with the support of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)," according to IPS.

Instead of trying to calculate pediatric doses by breaking up adult-sized pills, "[t]he new formulation, called LAFEPE Benznidazole 12.5 mg, in contrast, is easy and safe to use," IPS notes, adding, "Administering precise doses will minimize the risks of involuntarily giving too much or too little medication, and will avoid treatment interruptions" (Frayssinet, 12/8).