European drug regulators have approved a new treatment for sleeping sickness, a serious infectious disease that mainly affects rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The decision was announced by a scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency and supports international efforts to eliminate the disease. The medicine, called acoziborole and developed by Sanofi, is planned for use in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where most reported cases occur, with access expected to expand to other African countries. Sleeping sickness spreads through bites from tsetse flies and can cause fever, confusion, and severe changes in sleep patterns. Health records show that fewer than 600 cases were reported in 2024, compared with thousands several decades ago, showing major progress, although treatment remains difficult in many areas.

The new treatment simplifies care by using a single dose of three pills taken at one time, reducing the need for long hospital stays and travel. Clinical studies involving about 200 patients in Congo and Guinea showed that more than 95 percent were cured after 18 months of follow-up. The approval covers patients aged 12 and older and includes both early and advanced stages of the disease. The medicine also removes the need for spinal taps, which were previously required. Public health experts say easier treatment could help reach remote communities and support the World Health Organization goal to stop transmission by 2030. Sanofi plans to donate the medicine through the World Health Organization to ensure free access.