Novartis reported late-stage trial results for GanLum, a new malaria treatment that contains the molecule ganaplacide. Michael Delves of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who helped early development but was not involved in the trial, said the molecule is completely new and that Plasmodium has not seen it before and so has no defence.
The trial covered more than 1,600 patients across 12 countries in sub‑Saharan Africa. GanLum, given as a daily sachet of granules for three days, cured 97.4% of participants versus 94% for an existing treatment. The drug also targets the parasite as it prepares to transmit the disease to mosquitoes, which could reduce new cases and slow the spread of resistance.
Medicines for Malaria Venture, which co-developed the drug with Novartis, said regulatory approvals might take around 16 months and that the drug could reach the market in 2027. Researchers and public health experts welcomed the results.
Difficult words
- treatment — A way to help someone who is sick.treat, treatments
- promise — A belief that something will be successful.
- patient — A person receiving medical care.patients
- transmission — The act of passing something on.
- resistance — Ability to fight against something harmful.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think about new malaria treatments?
- How important is it to prevent disease transmission?
- What challenges might GanLum face before it is approved?
Related articles
People learn to use robotic leg prostheses but misjudge their gait
A four-day study found that people who practised with a robotic lower‑limb prosthesis improved their walking but misjudged their own movement. Researchers say better visual feedback could help users calibrate their body image and gait.
Alternative splicing linked to mammal lifespan
A study in Nature Communications compared alternative splicing across 26 mammal species (lifespans 2.2–37 years) and found splicing patterns better predict maximum lifespan than gene activity; the brain shows many lifespan-linked events controlled by RNA-binding proteins.
