Fexinidazole is a 5-nitroimidazole drug currently in clinical development for the treatment of human sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis [HAT]), caused by infection with species of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. Target: Antiparasiticin vivo: Fexinidazole shows dose-related efficacy in the T. b. rhodesiense (STIB900) acute mouse model at intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of 20 to 50 mg/kg/day and oral (per os [p.o.]) doses of 25 to 100 mg/kg/day given on four consecutive days, with 100 mg/kg/day p.o. being 100% curative. Fexinidazole is shown to be effective in the GVR35 mouse model, which mimics the advanced and fatal stage of the disease, when parasites have disseminated into the brain. [1]

[1]. Kaiser M, et al. Antitrypanosomal activity of fexinidazole, a new oral nitroimidazole drug candidate for treatment of sleeping sickness. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Dec;55(12):5602-8.