The company anticipates that this research will lead to the selection of a drug candidate to treat trypanosomiasis initially in livestock followed by a human treatment for the disease.
The trypanosomiasis testing will be conducted at Makerere University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, department of parasitology and microbiology, in Kampala, Uganda. Testing will directed by George Lubega, department head, and by Enock Matovu.
Upstream has demonstrated in vitro efficacy and in vivo (in animals) safety for potential treatments for trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis and malaria, all of which are caused by related parasites that have developed resistance to available treatments.
Joel Bellenson, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Upstream Biosciences, said: “We are excited that our R&D programs have yielded several high quality preclinical candidates for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. The results of this round of testing are expected to allow us to take an important step towards developing our first drug for a veterinary application in Africa.”