AUSTRALIAN FIRM TO DISTRIBUTE MALARIA DRUG IN ASIA

Australia-based Eastland Medical Systems announced it will manufacture and distribute a new malaria treatment in India and the Asia-Pacific region following the signing of an agreement with Proto-Pharma.

Eastland CEO Dermot Patterson said clinical trials of the treatment would begin in Malaysia within three months as part of the regulatory approval process. A recently conducted clinical study of the new treatment found a 100 percent effective success rate in all patients tested.

The company's injectable malaria treatment offers a number of significant advantages over current medications, according to the company. Traditional malaria drug tablets are in many cases ineffective in treating children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhea.

"This agreement is a key part of Eastland's overall strategy to build a strong position within the malaria treatment arena by accessing major international markets through global partnerships. Further investment and expansion negotiations are progressing well," Patterson said.

The company also recently signed contracts with its South African subsidiary and Botswana-based Star Medical for the distribution of the treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.