Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Quotient Sciences have initiated the first clinical trial for a long-acting injectable (LAI) preventive compound for malaria. The trial, conducted in healthy volunteers in Nottingham, UK, represents a step toward preventing malaria in endemic regions.
The World Health Organization reported 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths globally in 2022, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 95 per cent of this burden. Innovations in malaria prevention are necessary to address this ongoing public health crisis. In this trial, MMV371, a derivative of atovaquone, is being tested in an injectable form that could provide up to three months of protection with a single intramuscular dose.
The trial evaluates the drug’s safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics. The final injectable medicine will be a fixed-dose combination of MMV371 and a suitable partner drug, which reduces the likelihood of inducing resistant strains of malaria parasites. Another compound in MMV’s pipeline, MMV055, is a potential partner drug candidate and is expected to enter clinical development in 2025.
The study assesses different dose levels of MMV371 in adult volunteers. If approved, this new product could play a key role in protecting against new infections from all malaria parasite species, including Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly form of malaria.
The new drug combination may also clear asymptomatic malaria infections, where malaria parasites are present in the blood without symptoms. Addressing asymptomatic malaria is important for elimination strategies, as individuals who are infected but asymptomatic are unlikely to seek treatment, contributing to ongoing disease transmission. Unchecked transmission can lead to the emergence and spread of drug-resistant malaria.
Pending positive outcomes of the study, clinical trials in malaria-endemic countries are expected to start in 2026. The final product could be a vital tool suitable for broad populations and multiple malaria strains, complementing existing interventions such as vaccines, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy. An LAI could be advantageous in regions where SMC campaigns cannot be deployed due to parasite resistance.
“This trial brings us closer to our goal of offering a long-lasting, affordable solution for malaria prevention,” said Dr. Stephan Chalon, Vice President of Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology at MMV.
Dr Nand Singh, Medical Director at Quotient Sciences, stated, “We are pleased to support MMV with the clinical development of the antimalarial drug MMV371. The potential to help protect against P. vivax and P. falciparum strains and help save human lives is something that we are proud to be part of. This project will provide the scientific evidence for the potential development of long-acting injectable anti-malarial treatment.”
With affordability a key requirement, the LAI is intended for all age groups, particularly young and school-aged children, who are at high risk for malaria infection and death. The LAI’s affordability, single-dose administration, and ability to prevent malaria cases and treat asymptomatic infections make it a potential game-changer for global malaria elimination efforts.