Environmental impacts of drugs against parasitic vectorborne diseases and the need to integrate sustainability into their development and use [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]

Sammanfattning

Background

The current scientific discourse on environmental impacts of veterinary medicines mostly focuses on ectoparasiticides. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts of widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of human and animal parasitic vector-borne diseases (PVBD) remain largely unexplored. There is thus a need for evidence-based information to support guidelines and protocols for sustainable One Health PVBD drug development and use, while promoting greener research practices. Here, we reflect on the potential environmental impacts of PVBD drugs in current use, and the environmental impact of our research practices for developing new antiparasitics.

Methods

We conducted a survey to assess the current appreciation of sustainable drug design concepts and the extent to which One Health and sustainability principles are integrated into PVBD drug discovery and development. The survey also explored which human, technical, and funding resources are currently used in Europe and neighbouring countries in PVBD drugs research. The analysis and reflection are developed within the “One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond” Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 21111 (OneHealthdrugs).

Results

The survey response rate was 66%, from 32 countries, predominantly European. 87% of participating collaborators worked in Academia; research groups were small (60% with 1-4 researchers) and mostly consist of few researchers, mostly at early career stages (63% <35 years old). Collaborations were mostly between academics, and 60% collaborated with non-European researchers, while funding was mostly from national governments. Motivation for greener research practices was high but there was as yet low implementation of green strategies or the incorporation of ecotoxicological test in drug development workflows, due to cost and unfamiliarity.

Conclusions

We highlight the need for early-ecotoxicological testing of new drug candidates and suggest best practices as we move towards standardized protocols in developing safe and efficacious PVBD drugs.

Nyckelord

Drug discovery; Ecotoxicology; Environmental impact; One Health; Parasitic vector-borne diseases

Publicerad i

Open Research Europe
2024, volym: 4, artikelnummer: 207

SLU författare

• Thoré, Eli

  • Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Université de Namur

• Bertram, Michael

  • Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Monash University
  • Stockholms Universitet

UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljövetenskap
Patobiologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.18008.1

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132807