Framework programme:

6

Call:

3

Project number:

LSHP-CT-2005-018834

EC contribution:

€ 17 750 000

Duration:

60 months

Type:

IP

Starting date:

1 December 2005

Keywords: Malaria; chemotherapy; drug development; drug discovery

Summary:

Leading groups of malaria researchers will integrate their expertise in malaria biology, chemotherapy and drug development to exploit new scientific and political opportunities to secure the development of a portfolio of viable novel antimalarial drugs. These new chemical entities will be commercially attractive to industrial partners and, through the generation of PPP’s, will result in affordable new antimalarial drugs registered to internationally recognised standards. The scientific programme of this IP will comprise complementary clusters of basic and applied scientific investigation, will build on the technology platforms generated by the BioMalPar NoE and will provide candidate molecules for clinical evaluation by the ‘European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership’ (EDCTP) programme. The IP will focus on the following areas: novel quinolines, novel peroxides, lipid targets, other targets and post candidate development. The project will bring together European research institutes of established international reputation in the field of malaria biology and chemotherapy, and their affiliated research groups in malaria-endemic areas. Through AntiMal’s programme of jointly executed research, 29 European research groups will support the network’s goals to generate viable lead drug molecules in collaboration with eight SMEs and four partners from malaria-endemic countries (including two SMEs). In addition to strengthening existing European excellence, increasing institutional integration and creating a durable structure of basic and applied malaria research in Europe with a focus on drugs, these activities will establish critical mass at the European level and integrate malaria specialists into a ‘virtual drug discovery and development’ structure with one focused scientific objective: the delivery of a new drug/s for malaria. The integration will provide international leadership, disseminate expertise and resources, provide training and mobility of scientists at all levels, and foster long-term collaborations that will strengthen European malaria research. A strong central management structure will be built around the core group of 33 institutions with contributions from 19 European countries, which will give opportunities for future participation from other EU and non-EU partners.

Background:

According to World Health Organisation statistics from the late 1990s, malaria kills 2.7 million people in Africa each year, and is responsible for enormous economic burdens in all the malaria-endemic regions. Ninety percent of those who die of malaria are African children under the age of five. Over 0.5 billion new infections occur annually and it has been estimated that the direct commercial cost of malaria in Africa alone is around € 3 billion per year. All of these figures are on the increase and a major contributor to this is the lack of effective, safe and affordable drugs to treat this disease.

Aim:

The goal is to establish a portfolio of new antimalarial drugs from within the European scientific community, and to manage this portfolio through an industry standard, pre-clinical evaluation and select candidates from within the portfolio for progression to ‘first into man’ studies. Ultimately this initiative will produce antimalarial drugs, registered to internationally recognised standards of excellence, which have potential utility in the affordable treatment of malaria within malaria-endemic countries and Europe.

Expected results:

It is expected that a portfolio of potential antimalarial drugs with at least two molecules from the portfolio will be developed to the point where ‘first into man’ studies can be conducted within the project time. The ultimate expectation is the registration of an affordable, safe and efficacious antimalarial drug/s for use in uncomplicated malaria.

Potential applications:

The function of the consortium is to establish a virtual drug discovery and development capacity in infectious disease with a focus on malaria within the European community and with southern partners. This capacity, and the expertise that will emerge from consortium activity, will have applications across a number of infectious diseases. The specific application of the outputs of this initiative will be through the development and registration of an antimalarial drug, followed by safe, affordable and effective treatment of uncomplicated malaria. There may also be potential applications for these products in malaria prophylaxis and in severe malaria.

Coordinator:

S A Ward
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
Pembroke Place
L3 5QA Liverpool

Tel: +44 151 705 3286
Fax: +44 151 705 3177
E-mail: saward@liv.ac.uk
Website: http://www.liv.ac.uk/lstm

Partners: