Novartis and partners create promising new malaria drug

Novartis has developed a new compound which could potentially offer a next-generation treatment option for malaria, in association with a number of development partners.

Scientists at the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases have worked with the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the Scripps Research Institute to create the new candidate, spiroindolone NITD609.

The drug has demonstrated potential efficacy against both the Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax strains of the malaria parasite and could be usable as a once-daily treatment.

Novartis has expressed optimism about the treatment based on its novel mechanism of action, which allows for Plasmodium infections to be cleared upon administration of a single oral dose.

Mark Fishman, president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, said: "We are delighted that our scientists could provide this potential new malaria therapy, based on an unprecedented chemical structure and directed to a novel target."

Earlier this month, Novartis held its 2010 International Biotechnology Leadership Camp, during which students from leading global universities were given the chance to work together with leading industry experts.