Private sector organizations are leading the way in developing the next generation of vector control, diagnostic, and treatment tools that will accelerate efforts to eradicate malaria, and there are always opportunities for new product innovations across the disease cycle.
Many of the tools being used in today’s fight against malaria - such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying, and artemisinin-based treatments - were developed in the last century and have begun to diminish in efficacy as drug- and insecticide-resistance spreads. Promising new diagnostics, medications, insecticides, and vector control approaches are under development, and have the potential to turn the tide in the fight against malaria.
This forthcoming quarterly series will seek to showcase innovative new tools across malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment:
Prevention: Bed nets remain the primary tool for effective malaria prevention and are most effective when treated with long-lasting insecticides. However, mosquito resistance to traditional insecticides is on the rise, indicating that new vector-control tools and approaches are needed to continue to keep communities in malaria-endemic regions safe.
Diagnosis: The private sector also plays a crucial role in developing the diagnostic tools of tomorrow. Further innovations in malaria diagnosis will speed elimination efforts by providing health systems and national malaria programs with a fuller picture of the disease landscape, and interrupt outbreaks before they start.
Treatment: The private sector is also driving innovation to more effectively and efficiently combat the disease in another critical area: treatment. There is a need for treatments that are able to cure drug-resistant infections and better address the needs of pediatric patients. Further, the private sector has identified opportunities to streamline treatment regimens by curing the disease using fewer doses of medication.
While health and vector control product supplies will be featured heavily, as they play an obvious and key role in providing innovations in the fight against malaria, other industries also have the potential to make critical contributions and will be highlighted accordingly. For example, data and mobile technology companies can develop solutions for case monitoring and tracking medical records, while electronic media companies can help to design public communications campaigns to raise awareness about the disease.
Should you have any suggestions of innovative tools that we can feature please reach out to us!