Vienna: Approximately 584,000 people worldwide die of malaria each year. The
epidemic strongly associated with poverty claims most of its victims in
Africa, where it particularly affects the weakest, children and pregnant
women. Current therapies have to be taken over several days to be
effective against malaria. "Due to supply bottlenecks, but also the
quick reduction of symptoms, the administration of therapies over
several days is often inadequate which can lead to treatment failure and
ultimately represent a threat to the patients", so Michael Ramharter of
the Infectiology and Tropical Medicine Division of the University for
Internal Medicine I at MedUni Vienna on the occasion of the World
Malaria Day. First results of a multicentre study with Ramharter as
"Principal Investigator" now provide hope for the malaria therapy with
just one dose.
"Once the fever falls one day after
commencement of the malaria therapy, the reliable intake of medication
is often forgotten. Effective treatment with just one dose would
therefore be a giant step forward", explains the expert for the clinical
development of malaria combination therapies who has been working as
Manager of the scientific working group "Infectious Disease Control
Group" at the Albert Schweitzer Spital in Lambaréné in Gabun, Central
Africa for 15 years.
In an ongoing, multicentre study initiated
by the non-profit organisation MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture) and
supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science, Research and
Economy, scientists are now investigating a new substance with the
potential of being utilised as a single dose therapy in the future. It
involves the synthetic substance OZ439 (active ingredient Artefenomel),
which is examined in combination with the known active ingredient
Piperaquin. Ramharter: "One dose of the tablet dissolved in water kills
all malaria parasites and even protects the patient from reinfection for
a few weeks."
The safety of the medication has now been
successfully tested in phase IIb studies in adults, youths and children
in eight countries in Africa, South America and Asia. Now, also small
children are included in the study. The objective is to particularly
also determine the optimum dosage of the new medication combination.
Looking for the optimum malaria prevention for pregnant women
In
a further study supported by the EU, which substantially involves
malaria experts of MedUni Vienna, scientists are working on the optimum
prevention therapy for pregnant women. Malaria in pregnant women is
associated with the risk of premature birth, a lower birth weight of the
infant and anaemia in the mother. Current medications as well as the
newly applied active ingredient Mefloquin have not turned out ideal.
Ramharter: "This can be further improved for the protection of mother
and child."
On one hand, the current therapy includes the
imperative application of mosquito nets for pregnant women, on the other
a medicated malaria therapy whenever the women visit for their
preventive medical check-ups - regardless whether or not the women
suffer from malaria. "This therapy regime has principally provided a
great advantage for mother and child."