nifurtimox + eflornithine

Nifurtimox + eflornithine is a fixed-duration combination therapy (NECT) used for the treatment of second-stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. The regimen consists of oral nifurtimox and intravenous eflornithine. Nifurtimox is a nitrofuran derivative that generates reactive oxygen species toxic to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, while eflornithine is an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, blocking polyamine synthesis essential for parasite proliferation. NECT was developed to improve safety and ease of administration compared to previous regimens such as melarsoprol or eflornithine monotherapy. It has demonstrated non-inferior efficacy with improved tolerability and reduced toxicity in clinical trials and field studies. NECT was added to the WHO Essential Medicines List in 2009 and became the first-line treatment for advanced g-HAT until newer oral therapies were introduced[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Brand names

Lampit + Ornidyl

Other names

nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapyNECTN+E