New Treatment for Malaria Signals Significant Breakthrough in Disease Resistance

SadaNews - The emergence of the first new treatment for malaria in decades offers a glimmer of hope in the face of increasing drug resistance to the parasite, following Novartis's announcement of its high efficacy.

Novartis revealed that the GanLum drug employs a completely innovative mechanism to combat the malaria parasite, relying on a new molecule called "ganaplacid," which differs from any current anti-malarial medications, making it effective even in cases of growing resistance to therapies based on "artemisinin" (the basis of the anti-malarial combination treatment known as ACT – Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy).

Michael Delves from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who participated in the early stages of the drug's development, confirms that the novelty of this molecule means that the parasite has not yet developed defensive mechanisms against it, providing a significant therapeutic advantage.

High Clinical Efficacy

A large clinical trial involving more than 1,600 patients in 12 sub-Saharan African countries showed that the new drug achieved a cure rate of 97.4%, compared to a 94% rate for the standard treatment, according to a Novartis statement released on November 12. The drug was administered in granule form taken once daily for three days.

GanLum's impact is not limited to symptomatic treatment; it also helps stop the transmission of malaria by targeting the parasite in the stage it prepares to be transmitted to mosquitoes. Delves points out that breaking the cycle of infection is a key step in reducing new infections and limiting the spread of resistance.

The Medicines for Malaria Venture anticipates that the drug will receive regulatory approvals in about 16 months, potentially allowing it to hit the markets by 2027. If approved, it will be the first new malaria treatment introduced since the approval of artemisinin-based treatments in 1999.

Abdullah Djimedi from the University of Science and Technology in Bamako, Mali, states that GanLum may represent "the biggest advance in malaria treatment in decades," given its effectiveness against the parasite in its various forms, including mutant strains resistant to current treatments.

Resistance Challenges

Resistance to artemisinin-based treatments is one of the most significant challenges in combating malaria, with the first cases emerging in Cambodia in 2008 before extending to several African countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Olujobenga Mukolo, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, confirms that having an effective treatment that does not rely on artemisinin represents a necessary step with the ongoing increase in resistance, noting that GanLum is an important option in areas that have started to see a decline in the efficacy of current treatments.

Novartis presented its findings during the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Toronto, Canada.

Source: Medical Express