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South African researchers think they've discovered single-dose malaria cure
By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
August 30th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
August 30th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)
The mosquito-borne disease known as malaria sickens untold millions throughout all developing nations, in particular Africa. Now, researchers at the University of Cape Town's Science Department believe they have discovered a single dose cure for Malaria.
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The announcement by researchers say that the compound, from the aminopyridine class, has been under intense study for several years.Quite unlike the conventional treatment for malaria, which is a multi-drug treatment that has become dangerously resistant to new strains of the disease, Professor Kelly Chibale and his colleagues believe that they have discovered a drug that has "killed these resistant parasites instantly."
Tests performed on laboratory animals have proven to be safe and effective, with no adverse reported side effects. Clinical tests are scheduled for the end of 2013.
If the drug is approved and available, this achievement it will save millions upon millions of lives on the continent, preventing at least 24 percent of child deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. "This is the first ever clinical molecule that's been discovered out of Africa, by Africans, from a modern pharmaceutical industry drug discovery program," Professor Chibale says.
"The potent drug has been tested on animals and has shown that a single oral dose has completely cured those infected with malaria parasites."
This "cure" will most likely save health care systems throughout the developing world, and therefore make billions of dollars open for new areas such as development and settlement.
"The candidate molecule is novel, potent, and has the potential to have a significant impact on global malaria control and eradication. This is a powerful demonstration of how much can be accomplished when open-minded researchers come together for the sake of the greater good of humanity. The discovery that we announce today is a significant victory in the battle to alleviate the burden of disease in Africa," the South African Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor declares.
"Clearly the war on disease is not yet won, but I am excited by the role that our excellent scientists have played in finding a potential single-dose cure for malaria and possibly preventing its transmission.
"South Africa in general had built considerable strength in clinical research over the past decade. The main focus had been on HIV/Aids and TB. This development had occurred together with significant growth in the basic sciences that underpinned infectious disease research," Pandor says.
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