Pharmaceutical Business review

University of Dundee, MMV make progress in antimalarial research

The project commenced after the biology team at the DDU screened one of their collections of compounds against the malaria parasite, healthcanal.com reported.

Over a span of 18 months, two such compounds were refined through cycles of compound design, chemical synthesis and biological testing.

MMV chief scientific officer Tim Wells said Malaria control has been a cause for concern and the current effective treatment, artemisinin is developing resistance.

"In preparation for this eventuality MMV and partners are researching over 50 projects in the largest-ever pipeline of antimalarial medicines," Wells added.

The University’s Drug Discovery Unit has the remit of developing translational research at Dundee and outside.

MMV, a Swiss-based foundation, is recognized as a product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development.