A cheap anti-malarial being developed

GlaxoSmithKline are on the verge of developing a cheap anti-malarial drug, LAPDAP, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), for use in the under-developed countries. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the female anopheles mosquito, and is still rampant in Africa and India. Though it is eminently treatable, the medicines may be expensive leading to high mortality rates in developing countries. The development of this new and inexpensive treatment drug promises to save many more lives. The drug LAPDAP is being made from the combination of the two existing drugs used for malarial treatment – Chloroproguanil and Dapsone. In a statement released by Glaxo, the clinical trials for the drug are in their last stages, and the drug could be introduced in Africa as early as next year. The oral medication would be offered at low process for public health programmes and is claimed to be effective against certain strains of the malarial parasite that do not respond to treatments such as chloroquine. The project is being monitored by a joint team from WHO and GlaxoSmithKline. After the two drug giants, Glaxo and SmithKline Beecham merged recently, this association with the WHO is being held exemplary for private-public partnerships to obtain important practical results. The success of the venture will however be gauged when the drug proves to accomplish what it claims.

COMMENT