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This presentation considers the work done by the European Cooperative on Science and Technology (COST): ACTION CA21111: One Health drugs against parasitic vector-borne diseases in Europe and beyond. COST empowers young scientists to develop eco-friendly drugs, designed to be environmentally biodegradable, thereby minimizing the impact on wildlife and ecosystems. [https://onehealthdrugs.com/]

The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) definition of One Health (OH), which evolved from the COVID-19 pandemic, advocates for a collaborative, coordinated approach to optimize the health of all species and the planet they co-inhabit. Historically, the concept of One Medicine focused on the interconnection between animal health and human health. The inclusion of ecosystem health, through the Manhattan Principles by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in 2004, brought the concept of One Health into being. One Medicine and One Health (OH) have traditionally emphasized collaboration among health professions. This presentation advocates for another key player that has the potential to elevate medical care through this transdisciplinary approach: the medicinal chemist.

The environmental impact of medical waste derived from antivirals, antibiotics, anthelmintics, antifungals and vaccines pose a significant threat to human and animal health, as reflected in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Interprofessional collaboration with the chemist can inform the target profile required for developing species-specific drugs and vaccines tailored to patient safety using the principles of green chemistry. These factors contribute to minimizing the impact of environmental pharmaceutical waste and its potent harm on human, animal and ecosystem health.

Future efforts to mitigate the effects of climatic change on the occurrence of novel emerging diseases in diverse species will continue to require the development of new and safer vaccines and therapeutics. Therapeutic success requires a titrated balance between target receptor binding and avoidance of contamination of animal products (meat, seafood, dairy) for human consumption. Creating a drug with this target profile, which meets species-specific safety requirements and has minimal effects on human and ecosystem health, necessitates close collaboration between veterinarians, physicians and chemists who carry out the required molecular optimization for the desired therapeutic target profile.

*Medicinal chemists play a crucial role in the One Health approach, because of the key contributions they make which consist of:

1. The design and synthesis of antimicrobials for treating diseases that affect both human and animal health
2. Antimicrobial Resistance: They seek to design novel drugs effective against resistant microbial strains.
3. Environmental Impact: They seek to develop drugs using the principles of green chemistry that target methods that reduce phamaceutical waste which impacts ecosystem health.
4. Global Public health: Their efforts to develop new vaccines, anthelmintics and novel treatments for tropical neglected diseases and zoonotic diseases impacting animal and human health, inform the protection of public health.

The inclusion of the medicinal chemist into the conversation of Interprofessional Education (IPE) and OH is essential in any action required to tackle AMR and attain the UN Sustainable Development Goal agenda for 2030. Their inclusion in the One Health approach has vast opportunities for promoting the adherence to antimicrobial stewardship principles through their collaboration with all health professionals simultaneously promulgating the health of the environment, wildlife and ecosystem integrity.

References:

1. Gemmechu, Workineh Diriba, and Endalkachew Mekonnen Eticha. "Factors influencing the degree of physician-pharmacists collaboration within governmental hospitals of Jigjiga Town, Somali National Regional State, Ethiopia, 2020." BMC Health Services Research21 (2021): 1-7.
2. https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry
3. https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/basics-green-chemistry
4. https://release.ace.bayer.com/sites/default/files/from_molecules_to_veterinary_medicines_april_2016.pdf
5. Lithgow, Trevor J., and Mark AT Blaskovich. "What does the future hold? Improved detection, treatment and management of One Health AMR." Microbiology Australia(2024).
6. Blaskovich, Mark AT, Johannes Zuegg, Alysha G. Elliott, and Matthew A. Cooper. "Helping chemists discover new antibiotics." ACS infectious diseases1, no. 7 (2015): 285-287.
7. What is the role of the medicinal chemist. Retrieved from https://www.mtu.edu/chemistry/undergraduate/medicinal/what/
8. *OneHealthDrugs Workshop: “One Health approach to tackle infectious diseases challenges” at Paul Ehrlich&COST Action in Rome, Italy … June 17 – 19, 2024 from https://onehealthinitiative.com/onehealthdrugs-workshop-one-health-approach-to-tackle-infectious-diseases-challenges-at-paul-ehrlichcost-action-in-rome-italy-june-17-19-2024/

Provided by:

Professor Rohini R. Roopnarine, DVM, M. Phil, EdD, Dipl. AVOHS (Hon.), MRCVS, Member, National Academies of Practice (Vet. Med), Course Director, Veterinary Epidemiology & Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, True Blue campus, St. George’s University, Grenada, WI, Phone: +1 (473) 444-4175 ext. 3678, Email: rroopnarine@sgu.edu

 and

 **Prof. Maria Paola Costi, PhD, Drug Discovery and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy, Office: +390592058579, Mobile: +393396559131 mariapaola.costi@unimore.it

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A further clarifying, visionary comment by **Dr. Costi, COST European Cooperation in Science and Technology’s New frontiers in One Health:  She says, “Our proposal is an effort to encourage a more collaborative, inclusive approach putting aside silo and tribalism considerations. We can push on the technologies, but still must persuade scientists, farmers, stakeholders, media and the general public that we need some creative synergistic actions to positively affect the status quo where deficient. This calls for edification towards the utilization of all fields of modern professional scientific health care endeavors whenever and wherever applicable.   Adopting progressive impartial approaches and new processes is essential to help ensure an improved quality and safety for all human and animal (veterinary medical) drug development. The "no-need" perception should become a "high-need" demand or at least request. And most important, leading health oriented worldwide organizations in the forefront of the One Medicine-One Health international movement are needed to merge intellectually, strategically and tactically to ensure more efficacious expedited communicative research support and activities.  This will certainly facilitate a better life for all, both humans and animals.”

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