The Overlooked Crisis in the Liver Fluke Treatment Market: Addressing Endemic Neglected Tropical Diseases, Diagnosis Gaps, and the Need for New Antiparasitic Agents
The liver fluke treatment market, while niche, addresses a critical public health concern, primarily related to the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) caused by Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Fasciola hepatica, providing a compelling topic for a group discussion on global health and infectious disease strategy. These parasites, often transmitted through the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked fish and aquatic vegetables, pose a chronic health risk in endemic regions, leading to severe hepatobiliary disease, including cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), a major long-term consequence. The market is overwhelmingly dominated by a single drug, praziquantel, which is highly effective against most flukes but faces growing concerns about potential drug resistance and is ineffective against Fasciola hepatica, which requires triclabendazole. This reliance on a limited therapeutic arsenal is a key…
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