E-DRUG: The adaptability of (malaria) parasites (2)
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Hi
I am currently writting a paper on malaria.
it has always suprised me that whilst Malaria kills more people, and has more macro economic ramifications for african countries in terms of morbidity&mortality, than HIV/AIDS, there is little progress to curb this this age old disease.
In less than two decades since the fisrt HIV cases were reported we already have mapped its genome, and several vaccine trials are underway even here in Kenya. Basic microbiology would assume that it would be easier to get a vaccine/radical cure for a protozoon(malaria) than a virus.
What is so special about malaria parasite that makes its eradication (like small pox) a mirage? is it the funding, is it a neglected disease or what. Artemesia has been used by chinnese since 2000bc, quininine&cinchona alkaloids since 17th century-What does the new age pharma have to offer?
But other than DDT which was used to great success (see http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/history/index.htm) as control, there seems to be little in way of pharmacological innovation, and as the study in Malawi points out-we are back to square one-chloroquine!
Michael Kabiru
Phaarmacist
Laborex Kenya Eurapharma
kabiru@doctor.com