Researchers from across the globe have co-developed a new drug designed to combat the spread of treatment-resistant malaria.
The therapeutic uses a similar approach to cancer treatments, and works by permanently disabling a protein that allows Plasmodium falciparum to duplicate.
According to chemists at the University of Glasgow, the treatment could be more effective than current medications on the market, while also being a single-dose treatment.
Researchers are now looking to gain funding to conduct advanced toxological studies and optimise the stability of the therapeutic.
This is one of the main interests of Keltic Pharma, a spinout company from the University of Glasgow — which was founded by Professor of Chemical Biology, Prof. Andrew Jamieson.
Andrew commented: “During the pandemic, global progress against malaria stalled as access to treatment became more difficult, while parasites simultaneously developed increasing resistance to current drugs."
“We wanted to see whether a type of drug called a covalent kinase inhibitor, which has been used successfully in some cancer treatments, could provide an entirely new way to tackle malaria parasites. A fresh approach to medication could help us shore up our defences against malaria in the years to come.”
The malaria drug works by targeting a protein called PICLK3 — which is involved in the parasite's RNA splicing capabilities.
PhD student Skye Brettell, who worked on this project, added: “Although more testing is required, we’d expect from what we’ve seen so far that the molecule would be effective at all stages of the parasite’s life cycle, which is something that isn’t possible with artemisinin. Our hope is that this molecule could be the basis of a one-shot cure for malaria in the future.”