Antimalarial Drug Resistance and Implications for the WHO Global Technical Strategy

Overview

Journal Curr Epidemiol Rep

Specialty Public Health

Date 2021 Mar 22

PMID 33747712

Citations 36

Authors

Matthew M Ippolito

Kara A Moser

Jean-Bertin Bukasa Kabuya

Clark Cunningham

Jonathan J Juliano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Five years have passed since the World Health Organization released its Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (GTS). In that time, progress against malaria has plateaued. This review focuses on the implications of antimalarial drug resistance for the GTS and how interim progress in parasite genomics and antimalarial pharmacology offer a bulwark against it.

Recent Findings: For the first time, drug resistance-conferring genes have been identified and validated before their global expansion in malaria parasite populations. More efficient methods for their detection and elaboration have been developed, although low-density infections and polyclonality remain a nuisance to be solved. Clinical trials of alternative regimens for multidrug-resistant malaria have delivered promising results. New agents continue down the development pipeline, while a nascent infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa for conducting phase I trials and trials of transmission-blocking agents has come to fruition after years of preparation.

Summary: These and other developments can help inform the GTS as the world looks ahead to the next two decades of its implementation. To remain ahead of the threat that drug resistance poses, wider application of genomic-based surveillance and optimization of existing and forthcoming antimalarial drugs are essential.

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