AN2 Therapeutics Hits First Milestone in Fight Against Chagas Disease

AN2 Therapeutics Hits First Milestone in Fight Against Chagas Disease

By, Admin 18 August 2025

AN2 Therapeutics just crossed an important line in the sand:
The company completed dosing its first human trial cohort with AN2-502998, an experimental oral drug designed to cure chronic Chagas disease.

Why This Matters

  • Chagas disease basics: Caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
  • Scale of problem: 6–7 million people worldwide, ~300,000 in the US, and 100,000+ in Europe.
  • Silent killer: Often asymptomatic, but left untreated it can quietly damage the heart and gut, leading to heart failure, stroke, or sudden death.
  • Gap: No FDA-approved treatments for adults with chronic Chagas.

AN2’s candidate is designed to change that.

Inside the Drug: AN2-502998

Here’s what makes this compound stand out:

  • Origin: Built from AN2’s boron chemistry platform.
  • Drug class: Benzoxaborole — same family as two FDA-approved drugs (crisaborole and tavaborole).
  • Mechanism: Inhibits CPSF3, a key factor in messenger RNA processing in T. cruzi.
  • Proof in relatives: A related benzoxaborole, acoziborole, delivered a ~95% cure rate in African sleeping sickness.

In nonhuman primates naturally infected with T. cruzi, AN2-502998 showed curative potential. That’s why the leap into human testing is so significant.

Phase 1: Where We’re At

  • Goal: Test safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers.
  • Progress: First ascending dose cohort complete.
  • Timeline: Full Phase 1 expected to wrap by end of 2025.

What Comes Next

AN2 isn’t waiting for Phase 1 to finish before planning ahead:

  • Phase 2 trial: Already in motion, in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).
  • Funding runway: Company expects to reach Phase 2 proof-of-concept data within current cash reserves.
  • Potential impact: A real chance at the first oral cure for chronic Chagas.

The Human Side

Eric Easom, AN2’s co-founder and CEO, captured the stakes well:

“Chronic Chagas disease is often asymptomatic, so this significant unmet need has long been overlooked. We are committed to making a change.”

Key Takeaway

If successful, AN2-502998 could become the first FDA-approved treatment for adult Chagas patients. That’s not just incremental progress — it’s potentially life-saving for millions worldwide.

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