GHIT Fund Japan
07.08.2025 - 17:59:24Investment of Approx. USD 4.5 Million in Development of Diagnostics for Tuberculosis to Partners Including Fujirebio and University Hospital Heidelberg
ID: S2024-122
Project Title
Searching for Chagas disease therapeutic seed compounds from microbial cultures
Collaboration
Partners
1. Kitasato University (Japan)
2. Nagasaki University (Japan)
3. University of Tokyo (Japan)
4. Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) (Switzerland)
Disease
Chagas disease / Leishmaniasis
Intervention
Drug
Stage
Screening
Awarded Amount
JPY 15,945,864 (USD 106,639)
Status
New project
Summary
[Project objective]
The main objective of our proposed project is to identify novel T. cruzi active scaffolds
meeting GHIT/DNDi hit criteria and amenable for further development by screening
microbial cultured broths with a natural product chemistry approach. We aim at
characterizing at least five T. new chemical templates unprecedently associated with T.
cruzi activity over an 18-month work period. We will also opportunistically evaluate the
anti-Leishmania donovani activity of any antichagasic agent to be identified in the course
of the project.
[Project design]
In this project, three academic institutions (Kitasato University, Nagasaki University, and
the University of Tokyo) and DNDi will utilize their expertise to identify at least five
seed compounds for Chagas disease therapeutics produced by microorganisms in a one-
and-a-half-year research period. The seed compounds for Chagas disease therapeutics to
be identified during the project will also be assessed for their activity against Leishmania
donovani, which causes visceral leishmaniasis, to verify their drug potential.
Project Detail
https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/portfoliodetail/detail/241/en
*All amounts are listed at an exchange rate of USD1 = JPY149.53, the approximate exchange rate on March 31, 2025.
Appendix 2. Investment Overview (as of March 31, 2025)
Investments to date
Total investments: 38.2 billion yen (USD 255 million1)
Total invested projects: 136 (36 active projects and 100 completed projects)
To learn more about the GHIT Fund's investments, please visit
Investment Overview: https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/overview/en
Portfolio: https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/portfolio/en
Advancing Portfolio: https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/advancingportfolio/en
Clinical Candidates: https://www.ghitfund.org/investment/clinicalcandidates/en
For more information, contact:
Katy Lenard at +1-301-280-5719 or klenard@burness.com
Mina Ohata at +81-36441-2032 or mina.ohata@ghitfund.org
View original content:
