Accra, July 3, GNA - A clinical trial to introduce a new drug to eliminate river blindness has been launch by the World Health Organization (WHO) in three African countries.

The drug is called Moxidectine, which is being investigated for its potential to kill or sterilize adult worms of Onchocerca Volvulus, which causes river blindness.

The drug has a potential to interrupt the disease transmission cycle within around six annual rounds of treatment.

The drug is a veterinary marcocyclic lactone drug.

A press release signed by Jamie Guth, Communication Manager for Training in Tropical Diseases, received by GNA on Friday, stated the trial, which started in April 2007, would run for two-and-a-half years in Ghana, Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Each country would be provided with the necessary equipment and research teams trained on how to conduct the trial according to international standards and in Ghana, the trial would be conducted in the Volta Region. The objective of the Africa Programme for Onchocereciasis Control was to establish within a period of 12 to 15 years an effective, self-sustainable and community directed treatment with Ivermectine throughout the endemic areas within the geographic scope of the programme, develop the evidence base and assist countries to determine when and where Ivermectine treatment can be stopped.

"The Moxidectine data have been promising so far, and as the programme moves into a larger phase three studies, we are hopeful that moxidectine will constitute a significant advance against the devastating disease," the release said.

The studies were aimed at providing data on Moxidectine in subjects infected with Onchocerca Volvulus for determination of safety, tolerability and efficacy.

The exact mechanism of action of Moxidectine is still under investigation.

The statement said the disease had been controlled by Invermectine, which was donated by the Pharmaceutical Merck Company to river blindness endemic countries.

River Blindness is an eye and skin disease caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca Volvulus, which is transmitted from person-to-person through the bite of black flies of the genus simulium. The disease is the world's second leading infection cause of blindness. 3 July 09