Worming our way closer to the clinic

In a recent issue of “The International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance” Prof. David Pritchard from the University of Nottingham offers his intriguing opinion on the current status of “worm therapy” and outlines future research priorities aimed at bringing this research area closer to the clinic. In this response article we discuss various aspects of the current state of the research field and offer some alternative viewpoints regarding the future of “worm therapy”.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights• Helminth therapy has significant potential for the treatment of immune disorders. • Live worm therapy could be beneficial in the short term. • Defined helminth molecules are more attractive in the long term. • Parallel studies in mouse models and humans needed for elucidating pathways and checking efficacy. • Increased co-operation with pharma companies needed to make progress with the best candidate molecules.