Pfizer to develop new malaria drug in charity venture

Pfizer is allying with the not-for-profit organisation Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in order to develop a new drug to combat the disease.

The agreement will see the pharmaceutical company develop and deliver a new fixed-dose combination of azithromycin dihydrate and chloroquine phosphate that will act as an intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women.

This drug will then be introduced in a number of countries where the disease is prevalent, with MMV assisting with developing, supporting and advocating the new treatment.

Jean-Michel Halfon, president and general manager of Pfizer’s emerging markets business unit, said: “Pfizer believes that an affordable price for public sector sales of the medicine in endemic countries, if approved, is an important step towards increasing access and safe intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women.”

Phase III trials of the new treatment are to begin soon.

This comes after Pfizer last month agreed that it will be assisting the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation by providing a discounted vaccine for pneumococcal disease in developing nations.