A big issue in the fight against malaria is the plasmodium parasite’s ability to develop resistance to each new drug used against the disease. But in laboratory tests on animals, the parasite did not develop resistance to ELQ-300.

“These findings suggest that if the drug is eventually developed for human use, then it could enjoy a long, useful clinical life before resistance emerges in the field.”

Dr. Riscoe says the new drug seems to be more effective than other medicines now being used to treat people with the disease.

“ELQ-300 is about 30 times more effective at curing malaria in mice as compared to atovaquone -- a drug that’s in clinical use today.”

Researchers say ELQ-300 may cost less to make than other anti-malaria drugs and they say it may be effective in smaller amounts, or doses. They suggest it could be combined with another drug to cure malaria.

Now that tests on laboratory mice have been successful, researchers are preparing to test ELQ-300 in humans.

Michael Riscoe spoke in a podcast to the journal Science Translational Medicine, which published his research.

I’m Jeri Watson.

And that’s “As It Is,” our daily show in VOA Special English. Thanks to Mario Ritter and Jeri Watson for their reports.

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