Sanofi-Aventis, a pharmaceutical industry leader, and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a non-profit organization dedicated to the eradication of malaria, signed a contract earlier in 2011 to research new malaria treatments.
The two organizations will conduct a 3-year research survey entitled “Orthology Malaria,” which aims to create anti-malaria treatments from compounds (from Sanofi-Aventis) that are known to have anti-malarial activity. Each stage of the project will be carefully managed by both organizations.
Mostly Present in Africa
Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted to humans through the Anopheles mosquito. Once the parasite, or Plasmodium, infects an individual, the parasite colonizes and kills red blood cells.
Internationally, malaria causes over 750, 000 deaths every year. Over 90% of deaths from malaria take place in Africa - and 85% of these deaths are children under five years of age. The majority of these deaths could be avoided if individuals had access to anti-malarial drugs and-or properly administer these anti-malarial drugs.
Key Players – Malaria Vaccine Market
- Sanofi-Aventis, Merck, Novartis, Crucell, Wyeth, Pfizer, Glaxo Smith Kline, Antigenics, Sinobiomed
