Purdue researcher secures US$1.38m grant to combat drug-resistant malaria in Africa and Asia

USA — In an epic stride against drug-resistant malaria strains plaguing developing nations, Philip Low, a distinguished researcher at Purdue University, is on the brink of revolutionizing malaria treatment.

Low’s groundbreaking work has garnered the attention of Open Philanthropy, which has awarded US$1.38 million to bolster his efforts in combating this deadly disease.

Low, the Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery at Purdue University and the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry has spent over two decades delving into the realms of science and medicine. His mission: to validate a drug therapy that has shown remarkable success in treating malaria.

For years, experts have grappled with the ominous rise of drug-resistant malaria variants, especially in Southeast Asia, raising concerns that these strains could migrate to Africa, a scenario reminiscent of the 1980s when drug resistance to chloroquine led to millions of fatalities.

Low’s quest transcends continents, aiming to save lives in both Southeast Asia and Africa. His approach involves clinical trials to validate prior findings and explore the possibility of reducing the duration of anti-malaria treatment.

Low’s journey to this breakthrough began with an exploration of how malaria propagates in human blood.

Through extensive research, Low and his team uncovered that the cancer drug therapy, imatinib, holds remarkable effectiveness in combating drug-resistant malaria.

Trials conducted in Southeast Asia demonstrated that when imatinib is combined with conventional malaria therapy, it clears malaria parasites from 90% of patients within 48 hours, achieving 100% clearance within three days.

Moreover, patients treated with imatinib experienced relief from fever in significantly less time compared to those subjected to standard therapy.

Trials to validate prior results and shorten therapy in Kenya and Tanzania

Open Philanthropy’s investment in Low’s research includes US$600,000 for a larger clinical trial in Southeast Asia, aimed at validating previous findings, and an additional US$780,000 to explore the feasibility of shortening the standard three-day therapy to just two days or even a single day.

This research will be concentrated in Kenya and Tanzania, two African nations grappling with the scourge of malaria.

Low, reflecting on the challenges faced by individuals in Africa seeking treatment for malaria, stated, “We’d like to eventually be able to cure all patients with just one pill. It would prevent these drug-resistant strains from ever proliferating.”

Open Philanthropy, with its mission to maximize its resources for the greater good, recognizes Low’s unparalleled scientific vision and commitment to global health.

Brooke Beier, senior vice president of Purdue Innovates, expressed pride in supporting Low’s transformative work, emphasizing its potential to change lives worldwide.

Low’s contributions to science and healthcare extend far beyond his current endeavor. Over the years, he has been involved in numerous inventions, holding over 600 patents in nearly two dozen countries.

His dedication has earned him 213 research grants, totaling over US$43.5 million, during his tenure at Purdue.

Imatinib, originally designed by Novartis for treating cancer, has found a new purpose in the fight against malaria.

Malaria infects human red blood cells, where it reproduces and eventually activates a red blood cell enzyme that in turn triggers rupture of the cell and release of a form of the parasite called a merozoite into the bloodstream.

Low and his colleagues theorized that by blocking the critical red blood cell enzyme, they could stop the infection. The data from initial drug trials have confirmed that.

This novel strategy offers hope for a therapy that malaria parasites cannot evade, promising a significant contribution to human health.

“Because we’re targeting an enzyme that belongs to the red blood cell, the parasite can’t mutate to develop resistance -; it simply can’t mutate our proteins in our blood cells,” Low said.

“This is a novel approach that will hopefully become a therapy that can’t be evaded by the parasite in the future. This would constitute an important contribution to human health.”

Low’s ultimate goal is to make this life-saving treatment accessible in developing countries. With the recent injection of funding, he is now closer than ever to turning this vision into a reality, potentially saving millions of lives from the clutches of malaria.

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