Novel antimalarial compound could work against drug-resistant strains

A new antimalarial compound has been discovered with the potential to treat malaria patients in a single dose, including those with malaria parasites resistant to current medications, and help reduce the transmission of the parasite.

The details of the discovery, properties and mechanism of action of a novel antimalarial compound, DDD107498, have been published in the journal Nature. The compound was identified through a collaboration between the University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

Team leader Ian Gilbert, head of chemistry at the DDU, said: “The publication describes the discovery and profiling of this exciting new compound. It reveals that DDD107498 has the potential to treat malaria with a single dose, prevent the spread of malaria from infected people, and protect a person from developing the disease in the first place. 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.”