KEMRI unveils new drug to prevent Malaria during pregnancy for women with HIV

An innovative antibiotic drug could be the key to preventing malaria transmission among pregnant women living with HIV.

Scientists recommend that daily doses of co-trimoxazole alongside anti-malarial drug dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine can prevent transmission of the killer disease among HIV+ expectant women living in Malaria-endemic regions.

The development follows a study published in The Lancet by researchers from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the Malawi University of Science and Technology.

According to World Vision International, “co-infections with Malaria and HIV/AIDS have major health implications, especially on children and pregnant women.”

"However, its efficacy in sub–Saharan Africa is threatened because Malaria parasites are becoming increasingly resistant to the drug," KEMRI said in a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday.

KEMRI Acting Director General Prof. Elijah Songok, on his part, expressed appreciation for the new discovery that will provide an extra tool in the fight against Malaria.

“We celebrate these findings that propose additional arsenal against a disease that risks about 70 percent of our population, malaria in pregnancy can cause a host of serious health complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term delivery and growth restriction of newborn babies, and co-infection with HIV increases doubles these risks,” said Prof. Songok.

His sentiments were echoed by KEMRI Clinical Research Scientist Dr. Hellen Barsosio, a lead author on the new paper published in The Lancet.

“These findings are very encouraging. Not only did we find that adding dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine to co-trimoxazole was safe and prevented two out of every three Malaria infections during pregnancy, it was also very well tolerated by pregnant women, which is very important when a drug is given for prevention," she said.

"The study could lead to a much needed policy change that could make a real difference in improving maternal and newborn health in Africa."

The trial found that pregnant women who received the combination of monthly dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine to daily co-trimoxazole had 68% less Malaria during pregnancy than women who received the standard of care with daily co-trimoxazole alone.