$3.3 Million Funds Three Drug Malaria Treatment

The Japan-based Global Health Innovative Technology Fund announced today that it will invest approximately $3.3 million in a Phase III clinical trial led by Fosun Pharma for a triple artemisinin combination drug (Artemether-Lumefantrine-Amodiaquine fixed-dose formulation) against malaria.

Importantly, this antimalarial drug includes developing a co-formulated child-friendly version, given that most malaria cases are in children.

This combination drug candidate should have a significant public health benefit as it is expected to play an essential role in the fight against artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R), which is now observed in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Wen Deyong, CEO of Fosun Pharma, commented in a press release on December 14, 2023, "The collaboration will accelerate the launch of this new drug to actively respond to the threat of artemisinin partial resistance and partner drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites and save more lives from malaria."

Malaria is an infectious parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitos that affects approximately 250 million people annually and was responsible for about 620,000 deaths in 2021.

Infection in the African region constitutes 95% of the total global malaria cases, and children under the age of five account for 80% of all malaria deaths in this region.

Currently, two malaria vaccines are being deployed in Africa.