Now, a cheap and organic drug treatment for malaria

Washington: August 17, 2010

Researchers are testing a new drug for malaria - one that is made from simple organic molecules and will be cheaper to mass-produce. Traditionally, an extract of a Chinese herb, artemisinin, is commonly used in malaria treatment. The new drug, created by the Liverpool team, is chemically similar to artemisinin. However, it can be taken orally and is more potent than naturally derived artemisinin. Compared to artemisinin, the new drug is chemically more stable in the body, owing to its organic composition. The stability makes it last longer, reducing the chance of the parasite reappearing.

Read more