[Ip-health] Press Release: MMV launches its 5-yr plan targeting malaria eradication - new funding of $470 million needed

[Anna Wang]

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UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL

25 SEP 08 - 1700 GMT



Medicines for Malaria Venture launches its 5-year plan targeting
eradication

Developing next-generation drugs will require new funding of $470
million for the next 5 years



Geneva, Switzerland, September 25, 2008 - A new arsenal of antimalarial
drugs is critical in the global plan to eliminate and eradicate malaria
according to Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), launching its business
plan which set out its priorities and plans.

This 5-year plan answers the call for new tools as articulated in the
first Global Malaria Action Plan launched today by the Roll Back Malaria
(RMB) Partnership at the UN Summit in New York. MMV's plan describes the
new medicines it expects to launch in next two years and details how its
research and global access strategies fit into the broader global goals
of malaria control and eventual eradication.

With over 40 projects, MMV is managing the largest-ever portfolio of
antimalarial research. In order to develop the new antimalarial drugs
and help facilitate its wide use, MMV has budgeted US$600 million over
the next five years of which US$130 million has been committed by donors
including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and bi-lateral
governments.

"The next 5 years will be a crucial period for MMV. With our partners,
we will launch our first wave of new antimalarials. MMV is actively
managing its portfolio to better align with the new global research
agenda targeting long-term eradication," said Dr. Christopher Hentschel,
CEO and President of MMV, "The investment needed is large, but we firmly
believe that we can succeed in the vital drug innovation component of
the goals set out by the international community in the Global Malaria
Action Plan."

Among MMV's main priorities set out in its business plan are:



*         Achieving international regulatory licensure for three new
ACTs: Coartem(r) Dispersible, Eurartesim(tm) and Pyramax(r) and provide
clinical support to expand their use in special patient groups.

*         Accelerating the development of new treatments, including a
synthetic drug that mimics the mechanism of artemisinins, that can
replace ACTs if and when this class of compounds falls to resistance.

*         Expanding the drug development pipeline, including novel
mechanisms of action, molecules that target the challenges of
eradication - compounds that can cure malaria and prevent transmission
which are synergistic with vaccine strategies.

*         Developing and implementing joint product launch and access
plans with its pharmaceutical partners to ensure maximum impact of new
life-saving ACTs.

"Medicines play a critical role in the war against malaria. The
contribution of MMV and its partners towards building an arsenal of new
antimalarials is invaluable.  Research of new tools is one of the
three-part strategy in the Global Malaria Action Plan. We must ensure
this investment is multiplied so that all people at risk will have
access to effective and affordable drugs whenever and wherever they are
needed," said Dr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Executive Director of Roll Back
Malaria Partnership.

Eradication of malaria will inevitably take many decades. Given the long
lead times involved in product development, solid investments in R&D now
are critical to ensuring that the world has the right healthcare
technologies for eradication including medicines, vaccines, and vector
control tools. According to RBM Partnership, US$750-900 million per
year, for the next ten years, is needed to fund malaria research and
development.

###

MEDICINES FOR MALARIA VENTURE (MMV)

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is a non-profit organization created
to discover, develop and deliver effective and affordable antimalarial
drugs through public-private partnerships. Our vision is a world in
which these innovative medicines will cure and protect the millions at
risk of malaria and help to ultimately eradicate this terrible disease.

MMV is currently managing the largest-ever portfolio of over 40
antimalarial projects in collaboration with over 100 pharmaceutical,
academic, and endemic-country partners. The portfolio includes 19
completely new classes of compounds. New and improved treatment
solutions are urgently needed for the 3.3 billion people at risk from
malaria. MMV is working to ensure that its products will have the
greatest possible public health impact and, most importantly, save
lives.

www.mmv.org



For further information please contact

Anna Wang, Vice President for Public Affairs

wanga@mmv.org

+41 79 204 2875