Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Service, a leading provider of biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services, is pleased to announce a strategic supply partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative (DNDi), a collaborative, patients' needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases, for the supply of a CpG oligonucleotide, as part of a combination therapy used in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis infections. This project is supported by the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund.

As part of this partnership, Aji Bio-Pharma will manufacture CpG-D35, a class of CpG oligonucleotides, which provides strong immunostimulatory effects. CpG-D35 will be used to stimulate the innate immune response in patients as an adjunct to chemotherapies in treating complicated cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), persisting parasitic infections causing severely disfiguring and stigmatizing skin lesions.

"We are excited to be able to collaborate on this oligonucleotide with DNDi and support them in their efforts to develop and supply this quality of life-improving therapeutic for people with leishmaniasis," said Noriyasu Kataoka, Quality Manager & President, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services Osaka. "We are pleased to be a trusted and innovative partner to our client while reinforcing our dedication in improving the health of humankind."

Over one billion people are at risk of leishmaniasis worldwide, which is transmitted by sandfly bites. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common presentation, with about one million new cases annually. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis is a complication of visceral leishmaniasis, which can appear months or years after completing treatment.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services for the supply of promising new therapeutic for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis," said Dr Byron Arana, Head of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Programme at DNDi. "With this partnership, we continue our goal to develop and provide safe and effective cutaneous leishmaniasis therapeutics."