Rwanda begins Africa's first Phase 1 trial of long-acting malaria injection
- Medicines for Malaria Venture and Rinda Ubuzima have launched a Phase 1b trial of MMV371, a long-acting malaria prevention injection, in Rwanda.
- It is the first Phase 1 trial of a malaria long-acting injectable held in Africa, following earlier UK research.
- Malaria caused over 280 million cases and 600,000 deaths in 2024, with 95 percent of deaths in Africa, according to WHO.
Rwanda don start Africa first Phase 1 clinical trial of one long-acting injection wey dem wan use protect people from malaria. The trial na for one compound wey dem call MMV371, wey Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Rwandan health research organisation Rinda Ubuzima dey develop.
The study na Phase 1b trial, meaning say na early-stage test wey mainly focus on safety. E go check how safe and tolerable the injection be for Rwandan adults and adolescents, look at how well e work, and study how the body dey absorb and process the compound.
The news matter well well pass Rwanda. Malaria still be one of the biggest killers for the continent, and Nigeria carry heavy share of that burden. According to World Health Organization, malaria cause more than 280 million cases and 600,000 deaths in 2024, and 95 percent of those deaths na for Africa.
Why long-acting shot fit help
If the injection prove say e safe and effective, e fit join the existing malaria prevention toolbox alongside insecticide-treated nets, vaccines and preventive medicines. The appeal na convenience: earlier research for United Kingdom find say MMV371 well tolerated for healthy adults and show potential to protect for about three months from one single administration.
That fit matter for families wey dey find am hard to keep up with daily or weekly preventive medicines, especially for rural areas wey far from clinics.
Researchers talk say new tools dey needed because malaria parasites dey develop resistance to some antimalarial drugs, while changing weather patterns and weak health systems dey make the fight hard.
"Long-acting injectables get potential to redefine how malaria prevention dey delivered, providing sustained protection from a single administration," na wetin Dr Martin Fitchet, chief executive of MMV talk.
Marie Michele Umulisa, executive director of Rinda Ubuzima, talk say running the study for Rwanda show say African researchers and institutions dey active contributors to solutions for the communities wey need them pass.
Wetin go happen next
The trial go gather safety and efficacy data for Rwanda. Even if results positive, the injection still need to pass later-stage trials and regulatory review before e fit reach patients. The partners talk say the study also dey strengthen locally led research capacity for malaria-endemic countries.
