Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development

The Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development (CPDD) is a non-profit, virtual pharmaceutical organization dedicated to the discovery and development of new, affordable drugs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Headquartered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the consortium integrates expertise from academic institutions and private industry to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application. CPDD has historically focused on diamidine compounds for treating Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), Leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. Supported significantly by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the organization manages a pipeline of small molecule candidates through various stages of clinical development. Its most advanced candidate, pafuramidine, reached Phase 3 clinical trials before development was discontinued due to safety concerns. Despite challenges, CPDD remains a pivotal model for public-private partnerships in global health drug discovery.