COST Action CA21111 OneHealthdrugs has developed a multidisciplinary framework for the discovery and progression of antiparasitic compounds against vector-borne diseases of relevance to human and veterinary health. Over the course of the Action, the scientific programme has evolved from establishing common discovery resources and research connections towards an increasingly integrated pipeline in which chemical-space exploration, screening, medicinal chemistry, biological and mechanistic validation, ADME-Tox assessment, translational studies and environmental considerations can inform compound prioritisation. [1–4]

The first year, 2023, was foundational. The Action established its scientific working environment through early training schools, workshops, STSMs, surveys and scientific meetings. These activities addressed target identification, screening, hit and lead optimisation, ADME-Tox profiling, animal models, sustainable drug discovery and environmental impact. The Year 1 scientific record already contained work on antiparasitic chemical matter, nucleoside transporters, target validation, new antiparasitic scaffolds and antimalarial optimisation, demonstrating that the Action began with an active scientific base rather than starting compound discovery from zero. [5–11]

The subsequent years consolidated and expanded this foundation. In 2024, compound libraries, target-oriented discovery, phenotypic screening, medicinal chemistry and environmental integration became more strongly connected. In 2025 and 2026, the pipeline increasingly addressed advanced leads, candidate-oriented development and explicit environmental prioritisation. The OHD:LUB programme is a clear example of this maturation, linking large-scale virtual screening with structural refinement, machine-learning-based ecotoxicity filtering and experimental validation. [12–18]

The overall trajectory is therefore best described as a progression from capacity building and discovery-space coordination towards a more mature One Health pipeline in which therapeutic activity, developability and environmental performance can be considered together.

References

1.         COST Action CA21111 OneHealthdrugs. Memorandum of Understanding and Technical Annex: One Health drugs against parasitic vector borne diseases in Europe and beyond.

2.         OneHealthdrugs. Working Groups and Action structure. Official OneHealthdrugs website.

3.         OneHealthdrugs. Databases list and access: OHD Target Database and OHD Compounds Database / Virtual Chemotheca. Official OneHealthdrugs website.

4.         OneHealthdrugs. Working Group 4 – Integration of R&D process-environmental studies. Official OneHealthdrugs website.

5.         OneHealthdrugs. Publications – Year 1 (2022–2023). Official OneHealthdrugs website.

6.         OneHealthdrugs. Fraunhofer ITMP Training School, Hamburg, 8–10 May 2023: Drug discovery against parasitic vector borne diseases.

7.         OneHealthdrugs. 2nd Training School, Siena, 27–29 September 2023: MedChem and structural biology – tools and strategies for hit and lead optimization in the One Health perspective.

8.         OneHealthdrugs. WG2 Workshop, 22 June 2023: Innovative sustainable approaches in antiparasitic drug discovery: towards a One Health approach.

9.         OneHealthdrugs. WG3 Workshop, 2023: Animal models for lead selection against vector borne parasitic diseases within the One Health concept.

10.    OneHealthdrugs. STSM programme – 2023 activities, including ADMET studies, CK1 inhibitors, Plasmodione interactome and ecotoxicological evaluation.

11.    OneHealthdrugs. Scientific meetings, workshops and dissemination activities, 2023.

12.    OneHealthdrugs. Training schools and scientific events, 2024.

13.    OHd_REPORT YEAR 2 – 2024. CA21111 Action reporting record.

14.    OHd_REPORT_YEAR3. CA21111 Action reporting record.

15.    OHd_REPORT_YEAR4. CA21111 Action reporting record.

16.    OneHealthdrugs. Virtual screening of OHD Compound libraries against parasitic targets (OHD:LUB), 13 May 2026.

17.    OneHealthdrugs. STSM programme, including ADMET/ecotoxicology and lead-characterisation activities.

18.    OneHealthdrugs. Scientific meetings and workshops, 2025–2026.