Description:
Summary
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University and at the Portland VA Medical Center have discovered and optimized a novel class of antimalarial compounds that are superior to the standard of care.
Technology Overview
Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in the world today, as it has been for thousands of years. For each of the one million people killed each year, hundreds of millions more suffer from severe illness. The impact of malaria is particularly devastating in sub-Saharan Africa where its victims are primarily young children and pregnant women. This situation is worsened by the growing emergence of Plasmodium parasites that are resistant to multiple drugs including chloroquine, the least expensive and safest antimalarial ever made. Therefore, there is a need for safe and effective anti-malarial agents.
The current technology are a novel class of an antimalarial agents are effective at inhibiting proliferation of multi-drug resistant malarial parasites and selected members of this potent class are over 10 times more effective than chloroquine against malaria in mice, thus, demonstrating proof-of-concept.
Publication
Kelly, J., et al. “Discovery of dual function acridones as a new antimalarial chemotype.” Nature 459, 270–273 (2009). Link
Licensing Opportunity
OHSU Technologies 1325 and 1688 are available for exclusive licensing.