@article{99639,
  author = {Castro M and Erber A and Arana B and Cota G and Denkinger C and Harrison N and Kutyi J and López-Carvajal L and Plugge E and Walochnik J and Olliaro P},
  title = {Involving patients in drug development for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): A qualitative study exploring and incorporating preferences of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis into Target Product Profile development.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Background: </strong>Target Product Profiles (TPPs) are instrumental to help optimise the design and development of therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics-these products, in order to achieve the intended impact, should be aligned with users' preferences and needs. However, patients are rarely involved as key stakeholders in building a TPP.</p>

<p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Thirty-three cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients from Brazil, Colombia, and Austria, infected with New-World Leishmania species, were recruited using a maximum variation approach along geographic, sociodemographic and clinical criteria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the respective patient's mother tongue. Transcripts, translated into English, were analysed using a framework approach. We matched disease experiences, preferences, and expectations of CL patients to a TPP developed by DNDi (Drug for Neglected Diseases initiative) for CL treatment.</p>

<p><strong>Principal Findings: </strong>Patients' preferences regarding treatments ranged from specific efficacy and safety endpoints to direct and significant indirect costs. Respondents expressed views about trade-offs between efficacy and experienced discomfort/adverse events caused by treatment. Reasons for non-compliance, such as adverse events or geographical and availability barriers, were discussed. Considerations related to accessibility and affordability were relevant from the patients' perspective.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions/Significance: </strong>NTDs affect disadvantaged populations, often with little access to health systems. Engaging patients in designing adapted therapies could significantly contribute to the suitability of an intervention to a specific context and to compliance, by tailoring the product to the end-users' needs. This exploratory study identified preferences in a broad international patient spectrum. It provides methodological guidance on how patients can be meaningfully involved as stakeholders in the construction of a TPP of therapeutics for NTDs. CL is used as an exemplar, but the approach can be adapted for other NTDs.</p>
},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
  volume = {18},
  pages = {1-21},
  month = {02/2024},
  issn = {1935-2735},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975&type=printable},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0011975},
  language = {eng},
}