Bayer's ZeTO syntheses antimalarial active artemisone

The first large quantities of the new semi-synthetic antimalarial active ingredient artemisone for use in preclinical tests and clinical trials are being synthesised in the ZeTO, the central organics pilot plant of Bayer Chemicals.

This solution provides clear advantages from a cost/benefit point of view, the company says. In addition, the project, which is being undertaken in co-operation with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), can be advanced directly, quickly and simply in partnership with Bayer HealthCare which will formulate and prepare clinical trials.

The artemisinins, a class of sesquiterpenlactones with an endoperoxide partial structure, which include artemisones, have been known since the 1970s. Several members of this class of compounds have been proven to be high-performance antimalarial active ingredients. Artemisone is 20-30 times more effective than conventional malaria medication as well as having accelerated onset of action. At the same time it has very low resistance potential and thus far has not shown any signs of neurotoxicity.

The MMV is a non profit-making initiative financed from resources from the World Bank and private foundations which is designed to enable rapid development of more effective, safer and cheaper drugs to combat malaria primarily in developing and newly industrialising countries. The aim of the MMV is to achieve a treatment duration of less than three days, at a price of around one US dollar per treatment.