MalDA, Accelerating Malaria Drug Discovery

Trends Parasitol. 2021 Jun;37(6):493-507. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.009. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Abstract

The Malaria Drug Accelerator (MalDA) is a consortium of 15 leading scientific laboratories. The aim of MalDA is to improve and accelerate the early antimalarial drug discovery process by identifying new, essential, druggable targets. In addition, it seeks to produce early lead inhibitors that may be advanced into drug candidates suitable for preclinical development and subsequent clinical testing in humans. By sharing resources, including expertise, knowledge, materials, and reagents, the consortium strives to eliminate the structural barriers often encountered in the drug discovery process. Here we discuss the mission of the consortium and its scientific achievements, including the identification of new chemically and biologically validated targets, as well as future scientific directions.

Keywords: MalDA; Plasmodium falciparum; drug resistance; malaria; target-based drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Malaria / drug therapy*
  • Plasmodium / drug effects
  • Time

Substances

  • Antimalarials