May 26, 2014
Dr. Henry W. Murray, Arthur R. Ashe Professor of Medicine (and former Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases), has been working on leishmaniasis, in the laboratory and clinically, for nearly 35 years. For 15 years he carried out clinical treatment trials research in visceral leishmaniasis ("kala-azar") India. The drug he and colleagues in India introduced and tested in the treatment of kala-azar, miltefosine, has been approved by the FDA as the first effective oral agent for leishmaniasis (visceral, cutaneous and mucosal infection). Says Dr. Murray, "It is a good day when one sees a drug one introduces advance to FDA approval and is being used to treat children and adults throughout the world."