ORGANIC CHEMISTS FIGHTING BLINDNESS © Zul Mukhida/Sightsavers

The problem of River Blindness 2nd leading infectious cause of blindness 140 million people in Africa at risk 37 million people infected Caused by bacteria that live inside the nematode worm

What organic chemists did Convert a natural product to the highly effective drug called Ivermectin (MectizanTM) The drug kills the larvae and stops them causing damage The drug only needs to be taken twice a year

The chemistry they used A double carbon – carbon bond is converted to a single carbon – carbon bond Hydrogen is added to the double bond A special catalyst makes the reaction specific for one bond

Double bond Single bond