Potential single-dose malaria treatment developed

A new study has revealed the potential benefits of a novel malaria therapy that has the potential to treat malaria patients in a single dose.

Published in the journal Nature, the research shows how the novel antimalarial compound DDD107498, discovered by the University of Dundee, has the ability to treat those with malaria parasites resistant to current medications and help reduce transmission of the parasite.

Since it works in a different way to all other antimalarial medicines on the market or in clinical development, it carries great potential to prove effective in cases where no other therapy options will work.

The discovery was made through a collaboration between the University of Dundee's drug discovery unit and the Medicines for Malaria Venture.

Team leader Professor Ian Gilbert, head of chemistry at the university's drug discovery unit, said: "There is still some way to go before the compound can be given to patients. However we are very excited by the progress that we have made."

The World Health Organisation reported 200 million clinical cases of malaria in 2013, with 584,000 people dying from the disease.