TRIAL BEGINS FOR NEW COMBINATION MALARIA DRUG

The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Shin Poong Pharm have begun recruiting patients to participate in a pivotal clinical trial of Pyramax (pyronaridine artesunate), a new artemisinin-based combination treatment for malaria. The Phase III clinical trial will involve more than 3,000 children, adolescents and adults in several countries where malaria is endemic. The first center to begin enrolling patients is in Senegal.

Malaria experts are collaborating on the trial to provide the final confirmatory evidence needed by international regulatory authorities to grant approval for marketing and distribution in malaria-endemic areas.

In earlier trials Pyramax has shown promise as an effective weapon against malaria, according to Shin Poong and the MMV. This combination of known antimalarial agents is being developed to provide a low-cost, safe, efficacious, oral antimalarial therapy that is administered once a day for just three days. The Phase III trial aims to confirm the initial evidence of a high cure rate with a good safety profile in patients of all ages, particularly young children. When approved, the drug will be available in tablet form for adults and granular form for children.

"Shin Poong is delighted to be in such an innovative partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture to develop a much-needed new medicine for malaria. We are also looking forward to collaborating to ensure that this affordable and effective drug reaches people who need it most, especially in Africa," company President Hyun Taek Chang said.