Center for Global Health R&D Policy Assessment

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Beyond ACTs: what medicines will it take to eradicate malaria?

MMV discusses the necessity for continued malaria R&D

Medicines for Malaria Venture - Logo

Today, in 2011, we are a far cry from the empty malaria medicine pipeline of the 1990s. There are two WHO-prequalified artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) available (artemether/lumefantrine and artesunate/amodiaquine) and two more due to be launched in 2012 (Eurartesim® [dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine] from sigma-tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite and Medicines for Malaria Venture [MMV] and Pyramax® [pyronaridine/artesunate] from Shin-Poong Pharmaceuticals and MMV). Additionally, we now have a WHO-prequalified treatment for severe malaria at our disposal.

But What about the Kids?*

A look into global health R&D for pediatric patients

In thinking about neglected disease technologies, we often overlook the specialized needs of pediatric patients. Advocacy groups have done an excellent job in illuminating the gaps in appropriate pediatric ARVs, but what about other disease areas? And what are the obstacles in developing the right neglected disease technologies for children more broadly? After a little digging, a few important issues came forward.

New Technologies. There is undoubtedly a need for new neglected disease technologies for children, especially in diagnostics.