Research

Malaria parasites resist drugs by changing lifecycle

Tamera Jones | 21 May 2023 | Planet Earth Online

Malaria parasites that are sensitive to anti-malarial drugs could evolve to cause more serious illness in people who don't get treated with drugs, researchers have discovered. Scientists found that stressing drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum parasites by exposing them to low levels of anti-malarial drugs makes them change their behaviour.

Expiry of medicines in supply outlets in Uganda

Josephine Katabaazi Nakyanzi et al | 12 Feb 2024 | World Health Organization

The expiry of medicines in the supply chain is a serious threat to the already constrained access to medicines in developing countries. We investigated the extent of, and the main contributing factors to, expiry of medicines in medicine supply outlets in Kampala and Entebbe, Uganda.

Retail sector distribution chains for malaria treatment in the developing world: a review of the literature

Edith Patouillard et al | 11 Feb 2024 | Malaria Journal

In many low-income countries, the retail sector plays an important role in the treatment of malaria and is increasingly being considered as a channel for improving medicine availability.

Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine and Artemether-Lumefantrine for Treating Uncomplicated Malaria in African Children: A Randomised, Non-Inferiority Trial

Quique Bassat et al | 17 Nov 2023 | PLoS One

Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) are currently the preferred option for treating uncomplicated malaria. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PQP) is a promising fixed-dose ACT with limited information on its safety and efficacy in African children.

Reviewing the literature on access to prompt and effective malaria treatment in Kenya: implications for meeting the Abuja targets

Jane Chuma et al | 28 Oct 2023 | Malaria Journal

Effective case management is central to reducing malaria mortality and morbidity worldwide, but only a minority of those affected by malaria, have access to prompt effective treatment.

Impact of the large-scale deployment of artemether/lumefantrine on the malaria disease burden in Africa

Karen Barnes, Pascalina Chanda & Gebre Ab Barnabas | 12 Oct 2023 | Malaria Journal

Malaria is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Every year, nearly one million deaths result from malaria infection.

Simple Field Assays to Check Quality of Current Artemisinin-Based Antimalarial Combination Formulations

Jean-Robert Ioset et al | 30 Sep 2023 | PLoS One

Malaria continues to be one of the major public health problems in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Artemisinin derivatives (ARTs; artesunate, artemether, and dihydroartemisinin) derived from the herb, Artemisia annua, are the most effective antimalarial drugs available providing rapid cures.

Efficacy of artesunate-amodiaquine for treating uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-centre analysis

Julien Zwang et al | 23 Aug 2023 | Malaria Journal

Artesunate and amodiaquine (AS&AQ;) is at present the world's second most widely used artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT). Evaluating the efficacy of ACT recently adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and deployed over 80 countries was necessary to make evidence base drug policy.

Drug Use in Nigeria

None | 29 Jul 2023 | Africa Fighting Malaria

For decades, Nigeria has been plagued by counterfeit and poor-quality medicines, yet little information exists on the extent to which healthcare personnel are aware of counterfeit and substandard medicines, and how this influences their behavior.

Focusing on Quality Patient Care in the New Global Subsidy for Malaria Medicines

Suerie Moon et al | 21 Jul 2023 | PloS Medicine

Almost 40 years ago, Chinese scientists rediscovered the near-miraculous potency of artemisinin derivatives against malaria. Today, we are approaching a decade since the WHO recommended that ACTs replace older antimalarials rendered ineffective by resistance.