The Latest Malaria News, in 60 Seconds.
Artefenomel is assessed against Plasmodium vivax infection in humans to determine the minimum effective dose required for parasite clearance and LSHTM launch a beta version of The Global Vector Hub.
Malaria Minute on iTunes and Spotify
Transcript:
With resistance to antimalarial drugs on the rise, new therapies are needed to control the disease. Artefenomel, a novel antimalarial drug, was assessed against P. vivax infection in malaria-naïve adults to determine the minimum effective dose required for parasite clearance. In the study, 8 malaria-naïve adults were experimentally infected with Plasmodium vivax and, 10 days later, given a 200mg dose of artefenomel. The drug was well-tolerated and resulted in the rapid clearance of parasites. Recrudescence occurred 10-14 days later in 7/8 participants which allowed the use of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling to determine the minimum effective dose of 300mg.
And a beta version of the Global Vector Hub was launched this week. The open-access platform, created by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, brings together information and research on vector control, with a specific section on malaria.
Sources:
The Global Vector Hub by LSHTM
Image Credits: CDC/ Dr. Mae Mellvin [18997]
Scientific Advisor: Katharine Collins, Radboud University Medical Centre
NB: Katharine Collins, Scientific Advisor to Fight Malaria, is one of the authors of ‘Antimalarial Activity of Artefenomel Against…Plasmodium Vivax Infection’, a paper covered in this week’s podcast.
