Researchers have made significant strides in the fight against malaria with the development of a new antimalarial drug candidate, known as MK-7602. This innovative treatment aims to tackle the escalating issue of drug resistance and may help reduce the transmission of malaria. The first-in-class candidate emerged from a collaboration between the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and global biopharmaceutical company MSD (the tradename for Merck & Co., Inc., based in Rahway, New Jersey, USA).
Recent pre-clinical research published in eBiomedicine, a journal under The Lancet, demonstrates that MK-7602 effectively targets the malaria parasite at various stages of its life cycle. This capability positions the drug as a potential treatment for existing infections while also reducing the spread of the disease.
Addressing the Global Malaria Challenge
The emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites complicates global efforts to control and eliminate the disease, which is responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths annually. Children under five years old are particularly vulnerable, with a child reportedly dying from malaria every minute. MK-7602 specifically targets the most common malaria parasites in humans, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. By blocking two essential enzymes within the parasites, the drug employs a unique dual-action strategy that may lower the risk of developing resistance.
Professor Alan Cowman AC, the lead investigator at WEHI, emphasized the urgent need for new and improved treatments to advance global malaria eradication efforts. He stated, “The evaluation of MK-7602 represents an important step in our fight against malaria. Its ability to target multiple stages of the parasite life cycle, combined with its high barrier to resistance, supports our ongoing efforts to find new ways to combat this devastating disease for patients who need the hope of new treatments.”
Dr David Olsen, a scientist and Discovery lead at MSD, echoed this sentiment. He noted, “The development of MK-7602 exemplifies our commitment to addressing critical global health challenges through innovative research. We are encouraged by these results and look forward to further investigating this candidate as a potential new tool in malaria control and elimination efforts.”
A Collaborative Effort in Drug Development
The partnership between WEHI and MSD, which has lasted nearly a decade, utilized advanced screening technologies available at WEHI’s National Drug Discovery Centre. These resources were crucial in identifying and optimizing MK-7602. The study involved a combination of mouse models and laboratory tests using human blood cells, aimed at assessing the drug’s effectiveness against malaria parasites throughout their life stages, including in the blood, liver, and during transmission.
The mechanism of MK-7602 focuses on inhibiting two vital parasite enzymes, Plasmepsin IX and Plasmepsin X, with the intention of creating a robust barrier to resistance. Following successful Phase 1 safety and tolerability studies, results from a Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating MK-7602’s activity against P. falciparum blood stage infections in healthy adults were recently showcased at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene meeting.
While the research presents promising data, further studies are necessary to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of MK-7602 across diverse patient populations and real-world conditions. This research received support from the Wellcome Trust, Drakesnberg Trust, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.
The study titled “MK-7602: a potent multi-stage dual-targeting antimalarial” is available in eBiomedicine (DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.106061).
Through this collaborative research effort, WEHI and MSD are working towards innovative solutions that could change the trajectory of malaria treatment and ultimately save countless lives.
