WORMZERO — Accelerating helminth drug discovery

WORMZERO is a Helminthix Challenge programme designed to catalyse modern, AI-enabled drug discovery for parasitic worms and other neglected tropical diseases.

Why this matters

Helminth infections affect more than one billion people and current drug options are limited and aging. WORMZERO addresses this market failure by combining comparative genomics, high-content phenotypic assays and modern AI platforms to identify parasite-selective vulnerabilities and advance multiple candidate series.

Our approach

• Target discovery: comparative genomics and orthologue analysis to prioritise conserved, parasite-selective targets.
• AI compound triage: generative chemistry and large-scale in-silico screening to nominate candidates.
• Functional screening: validate predictions across motility, viability, development, fecundity and resistance assays.
• Lead optimisation: integrated PK/PD, medicinal chemistry and resistance-risk assessment.

First steps

Design the Challenge portfolio, define assays and benchmarks, set access/IP principles and involve LMIC partners from the start.

Get involved

Contact admin@helminthix.org to discuss collaboration.