MMV and Anacor to identify new malaria medicines
Anacor’s boron chemistry will be used to develop new therapeutics
Biopharmaceutical firm Anacor Pharmaceuticals has agreed with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) of Switzerland to explore the use of Anacor’s novel boron chemistry to develop new therapeutics for treating malaria. Anacor will lead the research effort and MMV will contribute its malaria drug research expertise and financial support. Financial terms were not disclosed.
‘Anacor is pleased to be working with MMV in an effort to discover and develop promising new therapeutics for malaria,’ said David Perry, chief executive of Anacor.
‘Anacor will continue to pursue these research and development activities in neglected diseases with the world’s leading not-for-profit organisations where we believe that our boron chemistry platform and expertise shows promising activity.’
Dr Tim Wells, chief scientific officer of MMV, added: ‘Malaria kills over 850,000 people annually, with the majority of victims being children under five and pregnant women. There is a critical need for safe and easy to use medications to thwart growing resistance to current drugs in this most vulnerable population. We hope that this collaboration with Anacor will lead us to effective new treatments for this devastating disease.’
