FDA approves Egaten to treat fascioliasis.- Novartis

Novartis announced that the FDA has approved Egaten (triclabendazole) for the treatment of fascioliasis in patients six years of age and older. This makes Egaten the only FDA-approved drug for people with this disease and is expected to facilitate broader access to this important drug not only in the US, but also in affected countries worldwide.

Fascioliasis , commonly known as liver fluke infestation, is a neglected tropical disease that infects 2.4 million people worldwide, with an additional 180 million at risk of infection. It is caused by two species of parasitic flatworms (Fasciola hepatica or Fasciola gigantica) ,that can infect humans following ingestion of larvae in contaminated water or food.

No continent is free from fascioliasis; human cases have been reported from more than 70 countries worldwide.Left untreated, fascioliasis can result in considerable pain and discomfort, leading to poor quality of life and loss of productivity. The acute phase of the disease is manifested with fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and eosinophilia. The disease later progresses to a latent phase with less symptoms and ultimately into a chronic or obstructive phase. In children, fascioliasis can be a serious infection with high fever, enlarged tender liver, and anemia.