New Antimalarial Drug Shows Promise

The paper is the first full disclosure of data demonstrating the antimalarial promise of MMV390048  (also known as MMV048), a compound discovered by an international team led by Kelly Chibale, University of Cape Town (UCT) in collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and other international researchers.

"The ability of MMV048 to block all life-cycle stages of the malaria parasite, offering protection against infection as well as potentially blocking transmission of the parasite from person to person, suggests that this compound could contribute to the eradication of malaria, a disease that claims the lives of several hundred thousand people every year," said Chibale.

In 2014, MMV048 became the first new antimalarial medicine to enter phase I human studies in Africa. Today, preparations are being made to begin phase IIa human trials on this promising compound as a single-dose cure. "We are very proud to have been working together with UCT and MMV from the beginning of the project in 2009," said Sergio Wittlin, Swiss TPH. Swiss TPH and other academic partners tested the compound against the parasites at different stages of their life cycle.

Swiss TPH has a long-standing history in diseases of poverty. Malaria research has been a core focus since the institute's foundation in 1943. Today, some 200 specialists work on various aspects of malaria in Basel and abroad. Activities range from basic research, vector control, capacity building and technical assistance.