02311nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260003300042653002200075653001800097653002300115653001700138653001800155100001500173700002300188700001400211245010800225856008000333300001000413490000700423520162600430022002502056       2026                            d  c06/2026bFapUNIFESP (SciELO)10aSystematic review10aGlobal health10aNeglected Diseases10aDrug Therapy10aEvidence gaps1 aSilva JBDD1 aFernandez-Llimos F1 aBorba HHL00aPharmacological therapies for neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review and evidence gap mapping  uhttps://www.scielo.br/j/rsbmt/a/mvKTYmp5rNFknXrqGXtLnJC/?format=pdf&lang=en  a1 - 60 v593 a<p><strong>Background:</strong></p>

<p>Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) comprise 21 endemic infections that affect over one billion people worldwide. This study mapped and identified evidence gaps regarding pharmacological therapies for all WHO-recognized NTDs.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong></p>

<p>We systematically searched PubMed for systematic reviews (SRs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and the ClinicalTrials.gov database for ongoing RCTs. Methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 for SRs and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for RCTs. Data were synthesized into evidence and gap maps, and the distribution of evidence was analyzed according to quality.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>

<p>Twenty-four maps were developed, including 74 SRs, 500 RCTs, and 70 ongoing clinical trials; of these, only seven SRs and 17 RCTs were rated as high quality or as having a low risk of bias, respectively. Trachoma exhibited the highest number of evidence gaps, while Buruli ulcer had the lowest. Taeniasis/cysticercosis presented the highest proportion (31.8%) of high-quality SRs, whereas Chagas disease showed the highest proportion of RCTs with a low risk of bias (18.4%).</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong></p>

<p>Significant gaps remain in the evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for WHO-recognized NTDs. The currently available evidence is predominantly of low methodological quality and is often insufficient to support robust therapeutic conclusions, highlighting the urgent need for rigorously designed clinical trials.</p>
  a1678-9849, 0037-8682