Just like in the development of many valuable medications, fortunate coincidences also helped with Cesol: “The research was actually focusing on something else when the active ingredient was discovered around 30 years ago at Merck — we discovered that Praziquantel is effective against all worms.
   
It is tolerated well both by humans and working animals, and thanks to its veterinary and medical applications, has remained in production ever since.” With the WHO campaign entitled “Action Against Worms”, which is part of the organization’s program to fight tropical diseases, Merck was asked to make its drug available: “I looked at the ten-year plan and thought: It’s transparent and manageable. It’s a good idea with the right priorities: The most important countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the target groups are school children, who need the most help.”   

Knackmuss was convinced by a visit to the area: Teachers were prepared, and school children had been educated in the dangers of the disease and told how the worms are treated. “We came back highly motivated and we said: It works! And we’ve now had that confirmed from other countries too. The helpers adapt to local conditions, can cope in countries with very different structures and are highly successful. In Nigeria, for instance, and the Central African Republic, the reports from these places are hugely encouraging too.”
   
Year by year, country by country, the initiative is now being continued — after all, only when the schoolchildren of today grow into healthy adults can they contribute towards building a better life for the people of their nations — and one day improve the hygienic infrastructure, so that the cycle of parasite, worm and human can be broken forever. This might then spell an end to this plague that was first described scientifically over 150 years ago.