Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)

Over the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic decline in the global burden of malaria. The number of new cases has declined by 37% globally, and deaths from malaria have fallen by 60% percent. However, drug resistance against current antimalarials poses a serious risk to these gains. Achieving WHO 2030 malaria targets to accelerate elimination will require intensified investment and efforts.

Research and development (R&D) investments for diseases of poverty such as malaria suffer from severe market failure. Neither do affected populations have the economic power to buy treatments nor is there a sufficient commercial market in the countries where these diseases occur.

The Product development partnerships (PDPs) provide, together with the public, private and academic partners, the drive and scientific and technical leadership to promote research and development programmes through the product development process.

Concerted efforts towards malaria elimination contributes not only to the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) health goal (SDG3), but also to ending poverty (SDG1), better education (SDG4), and promoting economic growth (SDG8). MMV’s joint venture model is also a prime example of an inclusive partnership to mobilize public and private resources to deliver on sustainable development objectives (SDG17).

MMV’s overall goal is to facilitate equitable access to quality antimalarial medicines, to develop better antimalarial medicines for clinical case management and vulnerable populations, and to bring forward new tools for containing resistance and eliminating malaria.

Population in malaria affected areas, pregnant women, children under 5.

Countries at different stages on their path to malaria elimination.

• Facilitate equitable access to quality antimalarial medicines to maximize the use and health impact of existing products.
•  Develop patient-adapted new combinations to overcome resistance, facilitate deployment with shorter treatment courses and protect vulnerable populations.
• Bring forward new tools to continue containing resistance and to support malaria elimination as more and more countries reduce transmission and become ultimately free of the disease.

Expected results:  

• 5 new medicines approved, targeting the needs of children and other vulnerable patients.
• Tafenoquine registered as a single-dose drug for prevention of P. vivax malaria
• 1 new class of medicine for malaria case management, submitted to a stringent regulatory authority (SRA).
• 7 new molecules entering human volunteer studies.
• 10–15 preclinical candidates designed for the global elimination agenda.
• Product support to facilitate equitable access to launched MMV–partnership medicines.
  

Results from previous phases:  

The 1999 founded MMV is recognized as the leading product development partnership in the field of antimaterial drug research. Since its start, MMV has launched six quality antimalarial medicines in over 50 countries, including delivery of over 300 million child-friendly Coartem® Dispersible drug for treating uncomplicated malaria in children.

MMV has the strongest strongest antimalarial research & development portfolio including 9 products in clinical development and 21 new chemotypes aligned with the target product profiles required for malaria elimination.

Overall, it is estimated that the combined impact of MMV-partnership medicines over the period 2009–2016 is more than one million young lives saved.

Extensive partnership network of over 400 pharmaceutical, academic and affected-country partners in more than 55 countries

World Health Organization, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), Tropical Disease Research Programme (TDR), Swiss TPH, Swissmedic, Novartis Pharma, Foundation for New Innovative Diagnostics, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Roll Back Malaria, Swiss Malaria Group

Phase 7 01.01.2017 - 31.12.2021   (Completed)