1. ORGANIC CHEMISTS FIGHTING BLINDNESS
© Zul Mukhida/Sightsavers

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Double bond
Single bond