The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials awarded a new grant to the new PAM Africa research consortium led by Medicines for Malaria Venture
The consortium will support the development of new treatments for malaria including babies, patients with severe malaria and drug-resistant infections.
The grant of 44 million Euros is to be matched by funding from Medicines for Malaria Venture, Novartis and partners for five years.
They will also strengthen clinical trial capabilities in Africa to ensure each site involved can effectively operate to regulatory standards.
Dr Timothy Wells, Chief Scientific Officer of Medicines for Malaria Venture said all research projects address areas of urgent need in malaria treatment.
He disclosed that the work on newborn infants and in severe malaria is groundbreaking in bringing medicines to this neglected group.
Dr Michael Makanga, Executive Director of EDCTP, said ‘malaria continues to take 405,000 lives a year and must remain a global and national priority in endemic countries.
We hope our funding will contribute to the development of successful new treatments that will support malaria eradication, while supporting African research capacity, he added.
Head of Global Malaria Program, Caroline Boulton, said ‘despite advances in malaria control, we still have a long way to go, new anti-malarials are urgently needed to tackle rising parasite resistance to current therapies.