Cipla, Strides Arcolab signs collaboration agreements with MMV

Pharma firms Cipla Ltd and Strides Arcolab today signed collaboration agreements with Switzerland-based Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) for the development of rectal artesunate for pre-referral treatment of children with severe malaria.
The collaborations are done under the MMV-led Improving Severe Malaria Outcomes project, funded by UNITAID, aims to develop a rectal artesunate product for submission to World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification.
Cipla and Strides, each, will develop a product building on the clinical studies led by TDR, the special programme for research and training in tropical diseases led by WHO, a joint statement issued here said.
The goal is to achieve WHO-prequalification of a rectal artesunate product by 2016, the release said.

MMV is a leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development. Its mission is to reduce burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries.
An estimated 5.6 million cases of severe malaria every year result in around 627,000 deaths, mostly of children under five years of age.
"We have agreed a clear pathway with these two manufacturers to bring this product to an internationally acceptable quality standard. This will help make the product available to more patients, buying more time and saving more lives," MMV CEO David Reddy said.