Malaria Prophylaxis Update

Experimental once-a-day malaria drug may be as effective as twice-daily pill.
Bloomberg News (4/23, Bennett) reported, "An experimental once-a-day malaria drug worked as well at treating the mosquito-borne illness as Novartis AG's twice-daily pill Coartem [artemether and lumefantrine]," according to a paper in The Lancet. "Pyramax, developed by Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Co. of South Korea and the Geneva-based Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), cleared the disease-causing parasite from the blood of 99.5 percent of patients in Africa and Asia after 28 days, compared with 99.2 percent for Coartem," researchers explained. Yet, "pyramax, also known as pyronaridine-artesunate, 'still has to be assessed in a real-life setting across the wider population of patients who need antimalarial treatment, including those who are malnourished or have anemia,' the study's authors wrote."
Moreover, the author of an accompanying comment pointed out that the study was somewhat limited by the fact that the trial included older adults and children who could have built up immunity, Reuters (4/23, Hirshler) reported. He also explained that some of the participants were found to have increased liver enzyme levels while taking the drug. Still, MMV welcomes the study, maintaining that having a cornucopia of anti-malarial treatments will spur market competition and possibly reduce costs.
Global Health Initiative to fund battle against malaria among children, women in Africa. Reuters (4/23, Fox) reported that through the Global Health Initiative, the government plans to focus on battling malaria, especially in African populations of women and children. Over the next six years, the US will invest $63 billion, and a portion of the monies is expected to supply nearly 70 percent of those at highest-risk in Sub-Saharan Africa with insecticide-treated nets and sprays and artemisinin-based drugs. According to the report issued by USAID, public health authorities will also try amalgamate their efforts with other plans to tackle TB, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical disease.