E-DRUG: PRESS RELEASE: One step closer to blocking the transmission of malaria
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Dear Colleagues,
I would like to share with you some exciting news; MMV and partners have
completed the first comparative analysis of all currently available and
in-development antimalarials in terms of the steps they target in the
malaria parasite’s lifecycle. This research has just been published in *PLoS Medicine* (link in the press reelease) and brings us a step closer to blocking the transmission of malaria.
Press release:
*Geneva, 21 February 2012. *Today, the first comparative analysis of all
currently available and in-development antimalarials in terms of the steps
they target in the malaria parasite’s lifecycle has been published in *PLoS
Medicine. *This research, carried out on 50 anti-infective molecules by
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and partners, provides the missing
pieces of the puzzle needed to develop future medicines able to block
transmission of the parasite from person to person.
Current medicines mostly target the malaria parasite at the blood stage in
its lifecycle, because this is the step that leads to clinical symptoms.
However, to block transmission of the parasite, a critical strategy of the
malaria eradication agenda, we need to be able to kill the parasite at the
sexual and vector (mosquito) stages of its lifecycle.
Research teams from Imperial College London, Genomics Institute of the
Novartis Research Foundation, Swiss TPH, University of Basel, Scripps
Research Institute and MMV were able to reproduce, in the laboratory, the
complex biology of the malaria parasite throughout its lifecycle. This then
allowed them to test the activity of the 50 molecules against each
‘laboratory-produced step’ to determine exactly where they act.
The research revealed a number of interesting findings. Specifically, some
already available antimalarials, such as pyronaridine and atovaquone, can
target the liver and sexual stages of the parasite in addition to the blood
stage. The endoperoxide OZ439, currently in Phase II clinical trials in
MMV’s pipeline, and a new 8-aminoquinoline, NPC-1161B, also demonstrated
transmission-blocking potential.
“These specific findings will be critical in guiding the selection and
combination of next-generation molecules to succeed artemisinin combination
therapy and will support the drive to eradicate malaria,” said Tim Wells,
CSO of MMV, “while the complete data provides us with a benchmark against
which to assess any newly discovered molecules.”
The original research article entitled: ‘The Activities of Current
Antimalarial Drugs on the Life Cycle Stages of Plasmodium: A Comparative
Study with Human and Rodent Parasites’, can be accessed free of charge via
the following link: www.plos.org/media/press/2012/plme-09-02-leroy.pdf
*For more information about MMV please contact:*
Jaya Banerji
Director, Advocacy & Communications, MMV
Tel: +41 (0) 22 799 4071
Mobile: +41 (0) 79 707 7181
Email: banerjij@mmv.org
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*About MMV*
MMV is recognized as the leading product development partnership (PDP) in
the field of antimalarial drug research and development. It was established
as a foundation in 1999, and registered in Switzerland.
*MMV’s mission* is to reduce the burden of malaria in disease-endemic
countries by discovering, developing and facilitating delivery of new,
effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.
*MMV’s vision* is a world in which these innovative medicines will cure and
protect the vulnerable and under-served populations at risk of malaria, and
help to ultimately eradicate this terrible disease.
MMV’s strength comes from its product development partnership (PDP) model
reflected in its network of more than 170 pharmaceutical, academic and
endemic-country partners in 45 countries. MMV also works in close
partnership with a number of WHO programmes that include TDR, the Global
Malaria Programme (GMP) and Roll Back Malaria (RBM).
Since foundation, MMV has received financial support from the following
donors: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; UK DFID; Rockefeller Foundation;
Netherlands Minister Devt. Co-operation; WHO/RBM; Swiss Government
(DEZA/SDC); World Bank; Wellcome Trust; ExxonMobil Foundation; BHP
Billiton; USAID; EU CRIMALDDI; Irish Aid; National Institutes of Health
(NIH); Spanish Agency for International Development; Newcrest Mining
Limited.
www.mmv.org