Discovery of Novel Antimalarial Lead Candidates in Africa

Richard Amewu of the University of Ghana in Ghana with Lyn-Marie Birkholtz of the University of Pretoria in South Africa will identify a lead candidate antimalarial drug with the potential to target multiple life cycle stages of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Drugs that not only target the parasite’s blood stage but also block parasite transmission can protect individuals from re-infection, decrease parasite prevalence, and prevent the spread of drug-resistant parasites. They will work as part of a research consortium across the African continent, integrating expertise in biology, medicinal chemistry, and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK). They will build on data from five classes of related compounds previously identified through antimalarial drug screening, seeking to identify an early lead candidate with a novel mechanism of action that can be further optimized.