World News 19-08-2004 Ancient Remedy `Will Cure Malaria` who: Clinical scientist Dr Jonathan Vennerstrom what: Announces successful trials of anti-malaria drug based on Chinese herbal remedy where: India when: Yesterday snippet: A new malaria drug based on a traditional Chinese remedy "promises the biggest breakthrough in a generation against the world`s second most deadly infectious disease after Aids," The Times reports today. Animal and computer studies of the therapy, known as OZ227 or OZ, suggest that it will be "the most potent and effective weapon yet developed against malaria, which kills a million people a year and infects up to 500 million more." Treatment based on the Chinese herbal remedy qinghaosu "was developed during Chairman Mao`s Cultural Revolution," continues The Telegraph, "but tensions with the West delayed its spread." Its active ingredient, artemisinin, is still the most effective treatment for malaria, but its plant takes up to 18 months to grow, making it prohibitively expensive for many Third World nations. OZ is based on the molecular structure of artemisinin but is "entirely synthetic," explains The Times, "and can thus be mass-produced much more cheaply, without the need to extract chemicals from a plant. It also has a longer shelf life than the natural drug, and fewer doses are needed to produce its full effects." "There is always great optimism when a new `wonder drug` comes along, yet malaria parasites are extremely adept at evolving drug resistance," Andrew Read, a biologist at Edinburgh University, tells The Guardian. "Let`s hope the optimism is well placed this time, though history is not on our side." [... more]

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