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High-Accuracy Chagas Diagnostic Test from Vida Pharmacal Now Used for First Time in Human Point-of-Care Screening

Press Releases

Vida Pharmacal Receives Priority Zoonotic Animal Drug Designation for Innovative Chagas Disease Treatment

Vida Pharmacal today announced that its innovative amiodarone + itraconazole drug for treating Chagas disease in dogs has received Priority Zoonotic Animal Drug (PZAD) designation from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Vida is the first company to receive a PZAD designation for Chagas disease treatment.

Vida Pharmacal Delivers First Treatment for Canine Chagas Disease

Author: Roy Madigan

Vida Pharmacal today announced the first cure for canine Chagas disease. Its multicenter field study, Successful Treatment of Canine Chagas Disease, was published in the prestigious Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, August 1, 2019.

New Company, Vida Pharmacal, Formed to Develop Treatment for Chagas Disease

Author: Roy Madigan

Vida Pharmacal, the first pharmaceutical company devoted to developing, marketing, and distributing a treatment for Chagas disease in veterinary patients, today announced its official launch.


Papers

Transcriptomic and ultrastructural responses to Amiodarone–Itraconazole in naturally benznidazole-resistant and -susceptible Trypanosoma cruzi strains

Published on January 16, 2026

This study evaluates the effect of Amiodarone-Itraconazole (Amiozole) against two T. cruzi strains that are sensitive and naturally resistant to benznidazol (DA) treatment. The authors used integrated transcriptomic and ultrastructural analyses to determine the compound’s mechanisms of action.

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Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (2000– 2024)

Published on October 15, 2025

This review encompasses 16 studies comprised of 4,974 dogs across five states and confirms the presence of canine T. cruzi infection in the U.S.

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Characterizing the transmission dynamics of Trypanosoma cruzi in Triatoma sanguisuga collected from dog kennels in southern Texas

Published on July 15, 2025

This study provides insights into T. cruzi transmission dynamics in southern Texas, demonstrating the active role of domestic dogs and wildlife in the local cycle of infection. Findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and vector control measures to mitigate the risk of Chagas disease transmission.

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News

The Silent Killer: More than a bug bite

Dr. Roy Madigan was interviewed by News4 San Antonio in an article about T Cruzi.

JAVMA Publishes Vida Pharmacal Paper

JAVMA published Dr. Madigan’s investigation of using amiodarone and itraconazole to treat Chagas disease. Check out the August 1 issue of JAVMA.

PAHO Issues New Guide for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chagas Disease

To improve detection and management of the disease, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has published a new Guide for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chagas Disease (currently available only in Spanish).

Case Studies

Beating the Odds Six Ways to Sunday

Starved, burned, and used as bait for dogfighting in south Texas, Jakes had a rough start. Owners Kelli and Jorn...

Bouncing Back Strong

Teddy was diagnosed with Chagas disease at just six months old after becoming critically ill from severe heart disease. Thanks...

Summer, Storm, and Aspen

Summer’s litter of puppies had been planned for three years. Lori, her owner and breeder, reviewed five years of OFA...

Remy

A “hoosier” as his owners affectionately call him, Remy was born in Indiana and came to live with his owners...

Doing the dinner dance

Alsace and her younger sister Harlan love dinner. Turn down food? Unthinkable. Every evening the two dogs wag, wiggle, and...


Videos

Zoe's Story

Length: 1 minute, 38 seconds

Zoe - "Yellow Collar Girl"'s - journey through Chagas disease.

The Science of The Heart

Length: 16 seconds

Nobody—canine or human—was harmed to make this video! In this clip, you’ll see beating human heart cells that were cultured from umbilical cord embryonic stem cells.

Our scientific testing methodology explored the use of Vidarone and its effect on trypanosomiasis in human cardiac stem cells. This short video shows beating human heart cells grown in a lab dish. The technique allows researchers to identify genetic mutations, test drugs, and advance understanding of cardiac disease.