Researchers have reported two promising new approaches to counteract malaria’s growing resistance to medication – one involving a new class of drugs, reports Medpage Today.
Switzerland-based Novartis released results of what it called a next-generation treatment. A study of its experimental drug in 12 African countries found it works well against the mosquito-borne parasite that causes malaria, and seems to block spread.
The drug, ganaplacide-lumefantrine, known as GanLum, is not yet licensed and more than a year away from being available.
It’s needed, said David Sullivan, MD, a malaria expert at Johns Hopkins University.
The parasite that causes the disease is developing resistance to existing drugs, meaning “the ice is thinning”, he added. “It hasn’t given way, but we’re concerned.”
GanLum has been given as a packet of tiny powder-like granules, once daily for three days. But getting people to take malaria drugs over several days has been challenging: some stop after one or two doses makes them feel better.
Experts say a third or more of malaria patients fail to complete the current standard three-day treatment course, a problem that can encourage drug resistance and allow curable cases to intensify.
In an effort to offer a one-time treatment, another team of researchers said an experiment in West Africa found a single dose of four widely available malaria drugs proved to be an effective cure.
The two studies were presented last week at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene conference in Toronto.
Parasite repeatedly developed resistance
If untreated, malaria can lead to severe complications and death. It’s mainly found in tropical and subtropical climates. The largest death toll in recent years has been seen in children in sub-Saharan Africa.
The medical battle against the disease has ebbed and flowed, as new drugs come along, but the parasite gradually develops the ability to resist them.
At the beginning of this century, for example, resistance to the drug chloroquine was widespread and malaria killed more than 1.8m people per year. But then came a class of drugs known as artemisinins, which worked well and helped drive a dramatic decline in global malaria death rates.
Artemisinin-based compounds remain the first-line treatment in most cases. But signs of partial resistance have been reported, and – for several reasons – malaria death rates have plateaued or even started to rise in some parts of the world.
Study tested four-drug combo
Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, MD, PhD, led a study in Gabon in which researchers gave a single-dose treatment combining an artemisinin with three other antimalarial medications – pyronaridine, sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine.
From May 2024 to October 2025, he and his colleagues treated more than 1 000 patients, half of them under 10, who were sick with malaria but not suffering life-threatening symptoms. A little more than half got the four-drug, one-time treatment. The rest got a standard, artemisinin-based treatment.
Blood tests 28 days later showed 93% of patients who received the one-time treatment were free of parasites compared with 90% who received the standard three-day course.
Mombo-Ngoma said there are discussions under way with a drug manufacturer to produce a single capsule or packet of pills to help create an inexpensive, easy-to-take cure.
Sullivan, however, noted that resistance is already established to some components of the treatment, meaning it will possibly prove to be “a short-term fix”.
Experimental treatment shows promise
Novartis’s GanLum is a combination of a new drug, ganaplacide, and an existing long-acting medication, lumefantrine.
In a study involving about 1 700 adults and children in 12 African countries, GanLum was found to have a cure rate of better than 97%, which was a little higher than a common artemisinin-based treatment. It was also highly effective against mutant malaria parasites with partial drug resistance, Novartis officials said.
Side effects included fever and anaemia – similar to what’s seen in patients who take some of the current anti-malarials, Novartis officials said.
There was a higher level of vomiting right after the drug was given, which they say may stem from its taste. The company is exploring flavouring or sweetening, a spokesman said.
Novartis officials said they are working toward regulatory approvals.
George Jagoe of the Medicines for Malaria Venture, which collaborated with Novartis, said he hoped to see GanLum begin rolling out to patients within 18 months.
The new treatment approaches can complement other efforts against malaria, including treated mosquito bed nets and new vaccines, said Andrea Bosman, MD, PhD, a malaria expert with the World Health Organisation.
But the promising news comes at as funding from the US and some other sources is being cut, which could have an impact on the ability of scientists to monitor drug resistance or make prevention and treatments available to people who need them, Bosman noted.
“The eyes on the problem are going to be blinded as aid to malaria-stricken countries declines,” he said.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Wits team joins global mosquito observatory in malaria fight
Novartis testing new anti-malaria pill in Africa
Africa braces for spike in mosquito-borne diseases after US cuts