Conferencia: «A Multi-Stage Preclinical Candidate for the Potential Treatment of Malaria»

Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease and half of the world’s population is currently at risk. In 2013, the WHO reported 198 million cases and 584 000 deaths, mostly among children under five (437 000).  Malaria in humans is caused by five Plasmodium species: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowelsi. The most pathogenic is P. falciparum which accounts for the majority of cases and deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. P. vivax is the next most prevalent species, particularly in Southeast Asia and Central and South America. Current antimalarials are failing due the development of drug resistance and new medicines are urgently needed.

In my talk I will present the discovery and development of a potential new antimalarial agent. The starting point for this project was a phenotypic screen carried out against Plasmodium falciparum at the University of Dundee, UK. Several series were identified and one of these was optimized to a compound which fulfilled the Medicines for Malaria Venture criteria for a late lead compound. This compound was extensively profiled in a large number of assays. It shows promise as a possible single-dose treatment in combination with another antimalarial and demonstrates both transmission blocking and chemoprevention potential. This preclinical candidate is now in advanced non-clinical development with the aim of entering into human clinical trials next year.

For more information, see:

Drug Discovery Unit news: Potential new antimalarial drug

A novel multiple-stage antimalarial agent that inhibits protein synthesis

Beatriz Baragaña et al. Nature 522, 315–320 (18 June 2015).

University of Dundee Drug Discovery Unit (DDU)