MycetOS – An open research model discover new drugs to treat one of the most neglected disease – Mycetoma

Mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease, is a chronic granulomatous subcutaneous infection caused by bacteria(actinomycetoma) and fungi(eumycetoma). MycetOS is an ongoing community-driven, open-source-drug-discovery programme aiming to discover new drugs that can treat eumycetoma. Currently, Itraconazole is the only option available, yet, treatment takes years and 25% of patients have recurrences. Amputation of the affected limbs are common and is a huge socio-economic burden for patients in tropical and sub-saharan countries. There is an urgent need to discover new drugs to treat eumycetoma.