Latest news with #'sMalariaInitiative
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Novartis to keep making malaria drugs if orders dry up amid aid cuts
Swiss drugmaker Novartis will keep making medicines for malaria and leprosy, even if it does not get orders as normal amid the global health funding crunch, its president of global health told Reuters in an interview. Ensuring availability of life-saving medicines The company makes 28 million malaria treatment courses every year, and sells almost all of them a not-for-profit price to countries and groups including the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), a U.S.-government funded initiative that still has an unclear future given President Donald President Trump's vast international aid cuts, although it did receive an exemption for some work earlier this year because of its lifesaving potential. "We are not going to be the bottleneck," said Lutz Hegemann, president, Global Health and Sustainability, Novartis, in an interview. "We are not going to produce based on demand, because we know that these medicines are needed, and we need to be creative in finding ways to get them from the factory to patients." Earlier this year, an order was cancelled by a contractor for PMI when it got a stop-work order from the U.S. government, Dr. Hegemann said. But then within a month it got an exception and asked for work to begin again. "You cannot do that essentially in real-time. We remain committed to our volume," said Dr. Hegemann, adding that this also applied for leprosy, which it donates in smaller quantities through the World Health Organization (WHO). Funding gap and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the biggest buyer of Novartis' antimalarials. It has not yet faced cuts but is fundraising now for its future work in a difficult climate. Speaking in London, Hegemann also urged the pharmaceutical sector to step up while governments, including the U.S., United Kingdom and France, pull back from aid funding, and particularly work more directly with governments that have traditionally been recipients of aid. "I think it would be a missed opportunity if we just tried to essentially plug the gap that donor country funding has created, and I think we need to move beyond that," he said, pointing to public-private partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and low and middle-income countries as a model. Dr. Hegemann also said Novartis is set to spend almost double what it pledged to by the end of 2025 on malaria and neglected tropical diseases research and development: $490m rather than its pledged $250m. Products in development include a dengue antiviral, new treatments for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, and the first malaria treatment for newborn babies.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
U.S. funding cuts likely to impact long-term research in malaria: Jane Carlton
1. What is the immediate impact that reduced funding is seeing on the Malaria Control programme worldwide? How does this adversely impact key high stress countries like India and African countries? According to a recent study by Oxford Economics, the United States disbursed ~$15.6 billion for malaria control through the Global Fund (GF) and the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) from 2003 to 2023, around 27% of total global malaria funding over that timeframe. This resulted in reducing malaria cases, improved quality of life for millions of people, and created more stable and resilient countries. It's been estimated by the World Health Organization that 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths have been averted since 2000 due to the concerted action of Western governments. Malaria control programs in India are likely to be less adversely impacted because PMI/USAID targeted African countries is where 95% of malaria deaths occur. Of more long-term concern is the impact that reduced funding of malaria R&D by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Centre for Disease Control will have on partnerships between Indian and American scientists, for example the Fogarty International Center research and training grants and International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research, which have been in operation for many years, training and teaching the next generation of malaria researchers. However, now we see an immediate impact of U.S. aid cuts upon malaria control and surveillance programmes particularly in African countries. We are hearing from our collaborators in Ethiopia that due to the closure of PMI offices, the supply chain of bednets has been halted. And the malaria control activities in the two highest malaria-burden regions in Ethiopia, Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz, have been stopped. A plan to investigate an outbreak of malaria in the capital Addis Ababa supported by PMI has been halted. Our collaborators in Uganda are telling us that indoor residual spraying funded by PMI has been stopped, and that personnel in charge of medical services at refugee camps are being laid off and won't be able to supply antimalarial drugs being used for test and treat in the population. Why is malaria still a threat despite the aggressive, sustained battle against it on all fronts, including research, containment, drugs and prevention mechanisms etc. ? The malaria parasite is a crafty beast. It is highly genetically variable and has evolved resistance to almost every antimalarial drug that has been developed. It also evades the human immune system by changing the proteins on its surface so that the immune system can no longer recognise it. The Anopheles mosquito that transmits it has also developed resistance to many of the insecticides that are used to prevent people from being bitten. And let's not forget that malaria is a disease that afflicts the most vulnerable in resource-poor regions that do not have access to good healthcare. So there is a perfect storm of the complexity of malaria that has meant its elimination is much more challenging than other infectious diseases. What are the newest tools available to us to fight malaria worldwide? Very excitingly there are now two WHO-approved malaria vaccines, RTS.S and R21-M, which are recommended for use in children in endemic countries in Africa. There is evidence in early studies that malaria has reduced in the children that received the vaccine. Of interest too, are a new generation of bed-nets that are dual-ingredient insecticide-treated and are expected to mitigate insecticide resistance in mosquito populations in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere. And in certain countries there have been development of specific, tailored elimination programmes, such as the successful Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN) programme in Odisha, India, in hard-to-reach and inaccessible regions. What is the latest development in technology to detect and contain this menace? At the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute we are developing and characterising genetically modified strains of Anopheles mosquito that prevent the malaria parasite from developing within them. We are also developing AI methods to discover biomarkers in the blood of malaria patients that can be developed into better diagnostic tests. And we are leveraging the research developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop mRNA vaccines that are an improvement upon the current two available today. Has malaria crossed zones and countries that were previously untouched? Historically yes, malaria was likely introduced to the Americas during the trans-Atlantic slave-trade in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. And with the increases in temperature due to climate change, the flight and breeding range of Anopheles mosquitoes will likely move, with the possibility of malaria parasite transmission in areas that used to be malaria-free. We also know that a species of Anopheles mosquito, An. stephensi, common in Southeast Asia, has recently invaded parts of countries in the horn of Africa, bringing with it the possibility of increased urban malaria cases in the towns and surrounding regions there.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
USAID cuts rip through African health care systems
As clouds gather and humidity rises across west Africa, whose annual rains bring an uptick of deadly, malaria-carrying mosquitoes, Musa Adamu Ibrahim, a nurse, is sitting at home, unemployed. In Nigeria -- home to 30 percent of the world's annual 600,000 malaria deaths -- clinics that once served 300 people a day in the conflict-hit Borno state have abruptly shut down, Ibrahim and other laid-off workers told AFP, following the withdrawal of American funding by President Donald Trump. "The clinics have been closed and (there are) no more free drugs or mosquito nets," said Ibrahim. The sudden dismantling of USAID -- the country's main foreign development arm -- is unravelling health care systems across Africa that were built from a complicated web of national health ministries, the private sector, nonprofits and foreign aid. As the effects of the cuts compound, the resulting damage -- and deaths -- are unlikely to end anytime soon: malaria cases will peak around the end of the rainy season, while threatened American cuts to global vaccine funding would likely be felt later in the year. In the meantime, the ripple effects continue to spread: alongside laid-off workers, malnutrition clinics have shuttered doors in Nigeria. Rattled supply chains mean drugs are at risk of being stuck in warehouses in Mali. Children are walking miles to reach care in South Sudan for cholera care and dying along the way, and refugee camps in Kenya are facing medicine shortages. "People with resources will be able to go and get drugs... but the poorest of the poor, out in remote areas of Nigeria and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, they're the ones who will be cut off," said Lawrence Barat, a former senior technical advisor for the US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). "They're the ones whose children will die." - Malaria forecasts upended - During malaria's seasonal peak, Ibrahim once saw clinics he worked at treat 300 patients a week. Fatima Kunduli, another laid-off aid worker in Borno, said her clinic was seeing 60 children per day for malnutrition and malaria care before it shut down. As downpours progressively cascade across west Africa -- Nigeria's have just started, while Senegal's rains won't arrive until May -- countries that have made in some cases significant progress in stamping out malaria in recent decades will now be doing so without a major financial backer. Forecasts developed by ministries of health across the continent to plan for the rainy season have deep holes blown in them, said Saschveen Singh, an infectious disease specialist with Doctors Without Borders in France. The complex mix of funding sources in each nation -- from local governments to internationalnonprofits -- means US programmes worked differently in every country. In Mali, seasonal malaria chemoprevention drugs given to young children won't have an issue coming into the country -- but American funds were crucial for coordinating their distribution, Singh told AFP. Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the USAID-supported PMI was the primary malaria drug and test provider to government health facilities in nine provinces. "Suddenly, they'll just not have drugs, and it's going to be very difficult for other actors to step in," said Singh, adding her co-workers are "scrambling" to map out where gaps may arise. - Cholera treatment scaled back - In South Sudan, USAID-funded clinics have closed amid a cholera outbreak. Children are walking hours to the next closest treatment centre, with at least five dying along the way in the country's eastern Jonglei state, British charity Save the Children reported earlier this month. In neighbouring Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, which hosts more than 300,000 people, protests broke out in March when it was announced rations would be lowered, and doctors are running out of medicine. "All the clinics around, you can get paracetamol. But all other drugs, no," one camp elder, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP during a recent visit. At Kinkole General Hospital, in Kinshasa, doctors were recently treating 23 mpox patients isolated in tents free of charge thanks to American support. But workers have no idea if that funding will continue, despite an outbreak that has infected 16,000 and killed 1,600. "We're thinking a disaster is coming," said Yvonne Walo, an epidemiologist at the centre. - Potential vaccine funding gap - The hits to health care systems are set to keep coming. Washington is reportedly considering pulling back its funding to Gavi, the organisation that procures vaccinations for the world's poorest countries. Cuts would be almost guaranteed, with Gavi chief executive Sania Nishtar telling AFP that "this is too big a hole to be filled." If confirmed, John Johnson, a vaccination and epidemic response advisor with Doctors Without Borders, expects programmes to start coming under strain later this year. In Borno, whose governor recently warned of a resurgence of the Boko Haram jihadist group, Kunduli, the laid-off aid worker, said even with US funding the work was "overwhelming." Now, "I could only imagine." su-nro/sn/cw
USA Today
07-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
I'm an NFL player, yet malaria nearly killed me. Kids will die without foreign aid.
I'm an NFL player, yet malaria nearly killed me. Kids will die without foreign aid. | Opinion Suspending lifesaving treatment programs would endanger not only those abroad but also Americans who travel, work or serve our country overseas. Show Caption Hide Caption How Manatee County Mosquito Control is fighting the spread of malaria Christopher Lesser, the director of Manatee County Mosquito Control District, talks about how to protect yourself from malaria. Thomas Bender, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Two years ago, malaria nearly killed me, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have survived. Not just because I was an NFL player in peak physical condition, but because I had access to lifesaving anti-malarial treatments and top-tier medical care. Millions of people around the world ‒ primarily young children ‒ are not as lucky, and if we as a country continue to halt critical malaria-fighting foreign assistance, the consequences will be devastating. The U.S. President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has been vital in the fight against this deadly disease, helping to drive down malaria cases and deaths significantly in its partner countries. However, the recent freeze on funding for foreign aid programs has jeopardized critical initiatives that support global health and development. This halt disrupts the delivery of essential medical supplies, leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk and undoing many years of progress. Freezing funding tragically reverses progress against malaria Having personally experienced the horror of malaria, I am deeply saddened by this decision. It is unacceptable that these barriers are preventing children and families from accessing essential innovations and services that could save lives. That is why I stand with United to Beat Malaria in urging all relevant parties ensure that PMI-funded programs are immediately reinstated with sufficient funding and resources. If action is not taken, the risks are both health-related and economic-related. According to a recent analysis, suspending the President's Malaria Initiative programs for 90 days would result in 1.7 million additional malaria cases and 17,000 additional deaths. This would represent a tragic reversal of the progress we have made through our investments as a nation, endangering not only those abroad but also Americans who travel, work or serve our country overseas. Opinion: What this veteran knows is essential to our national security Beyond the health crisis, malaria has severe economic implications as well. This disease hampers productivity, increases health care costs and disrupts education particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. When workers and students are debilitated by illness, productivity is significantly impacted and entire economies suffer. Investments in malaria prevention not only save lives but also foster economic stability and growth in the world's most vulnerable regions, regions that we as a country have vested interest in. What my battle with malaria made clear My own harrowing experience with malaria began in the summer of 2023 when my wife, Sherée, and I traveled to her home country of Nigeria to visit family and continue our annual philanthropic work. That year had started with immense promise for me: I had just secured my first multiyear contract in unrestricted free agency with the New England Patriots. It was a defining moment in my NFL career. The first morning my wife and I woke up finally back in Boston from traveling, my body temperature had skyrocketed to 105 degrees. Sherée insisted we go to the hospital, a decision that ultimately saved my life. Instead of preparing for training camp, I found myself in the emergency room at Newton-Wellesley Hospital fighting to survive. The doctors gave me a 50-50 chance. Had I arrived any later or lacked access to anti-malarial treatment, I likely would not have made it. Because of malaria, I missed training camp and lost critical conditioning time, which impacted my season and career trajectory. Today, I am grateful to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers and to be back at full strength, but the memory of my battle with malaria still lingers. What is remarkable about my story is just how unremarkable it is on a global scale. Every day, thousands of children in malaria-endemic regions miss school, sports and even basic daily activities due to this disease. Many Americans remain unaware that malaria is still one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Pregnant women and young children are especially vulnerable, and without access to protective measures like bed nets and treatments, a child under 5 years old dies from malaria every single minute. If left untreated, a child can die in as little as 24 hours. Opinion: We ended measles once. Now a child has died needlessly from a preventable disease. I am not a doctor or a scientist, but my battle with malaria made one thing abundantly clear: If we can protect even one person from this disease ‒ let alone millions ‒ we have both a moral and fiscal duty to act. This is not just a humanitarian obligation; it is also a smart economic and strategic investment. Malaria does not respect borders. The United States reports at least 2,000 malaria cases annually, many of them linked to travel. Malaria also remains a leading disease threat for U.S. military personnel and diplomats stationed overseas. Yet, just weeks after acknowledging the importance of fighting malaria, the foreign aid freeze has stalled these crucial efforts, leaving millions of people unprotected and untreated. My story is just one example, but it serves as a powerful reminder that malaria remains a very real and deadly threat. Had I not had access to timely treatment, I might not be here today. Millions of others do not have that luxury. We have made tremendous strides in the fight against malaria, but those potent gains are now at risk. I urge our leaders to do the right thing: Restore funding, resume this lifesaving program ‒ and reaffirm America's commitment to beating malaria once and for all. Calvin Anderson is a seventh year NFL veteran and current offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Alongside his wife, Sherée, he leads JB5 Investments and the Lanihun-Anderson Foundation, working to promote financial literacy, empower communities and advocate for global health.
