Ifakara Masterclass Edition 29- Malaria Medicines: A MasterClass with Profs. Timothy Wells, Pierre Hugo, George Jagoe & Abdoulaye Djimde

Malaria Medicines

The 29th edition of the masterclass hosted by Fredros Okumu from Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) and Sheila Ogoma from Clinton Health Access Initiative(CHAI) features Profs. Timothy Wells, Pierre Hugo, George Jagoe & Abdoulaye Djimde.

The discussion eases into the history of malaria medicines highlighting certain milestones in developing malaria treatment. Description of Chinchona bark(Quinine) in Peru and its transport to Rome for malaria therapy in 1631. Commercialization and widespread use of chloroquine then ensued on 1947 which led to emergence of choloroquine resistance at the Thai- Cambodian border in 1950. Later on in the 1970s chloroquine resistance was documented on every continent with malaria. Artemisinin was then isolated from Artemisia annua by a chinese chemist in 1972. WHO then recommended Artemisinin combination therepy for first-line therapy of malaria on 2006. Between 2009-2012 fixed-dose Artemisinin combination therapies by MMV, DNDi and pharmaceutical partners was launched. Experts highlighted new advancements and possible new malaria drug candidates and medicines for chemoprevention and seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis. The need for essential partnership for malariadrug development and innovation was called into attention. Furthermore, in the latter part of the discourse severe malaria management and development of medicines for Plasmodium vivax and other malaria species was emphasized upon.