Next-gen cholera treatment for faster recovery, lower mortality and better outbreak control

Cholera remains a severe diarrhoeal disease that can kill within hours if untreated. Despite being preventable and treatable, cholera continues to cause major public health crises, with over 730,000 cases and 5,000 deaths reported globally in 2024, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, extreme weather events, fragile healthcare systems and inadequate WASH infrastructure exacerbate the persistence of cholera and undermine existing control strategies. Although oral cholera vaccines have proven effective, global shortages and waning immunity highlight the urgent need for complementary interventions. HUNADIA addresses this gap by developing and clinically validating a novel oral antidiarrhoeal treatment (VR-AD-1005, "VR") that directly neutralises cholera toxin-induced fluid loss, where rehydration and antibiotics fall short. Building on a successful Phase II trial in Bangladesh, which demonstrated an eightfold reduction in stool volume and halved hospitalisation times, HUNADIA will conduct a large-scale, adaptive Phase IIb/III, placebo-controlled trial across 7 high-burden SSA countries. The trial will generate robust evidence on safety, efficacy and clinical utility, including in vulnerable populations. Our multidisciplinary consortium unites 11 partners from Africa, Europe and Asia, spanning drug discovery, GMP manufacturing, late-stage clinical research, health economics and policy translation. By strengthening African clinical trial capacity, engaging with all stakeholder groups and integrating climate-health data, HUNADIA is uniquely positioned to deliver a scientifically sound, clinically effective, cost-efficient and socially accepted solution. By reducing cholera morbidity and mortality, alleviating the burden on health systems and enabling rapid outbreak response, HUNADIA will contribute directly to epidemic preparedness, affordable access to innovations, and the Global Task Force on Cholera Control's 2030 elimination roadmap.