YAOUNDE, Cameroon, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The Multilateral Initiative on Malaria says phase III clinical trials are about to begin in Cameroon on a combined treatment to fight drug-resistant malaria.
Chlorproguanil hydrochloride-dapsone-artesunate, or CDA, is a new artemisinin-based combination therapy, or ACT, that has proven effective in adults and children in fighting increasingly resistant malaria, World Health Organization officials said Tuesday.
"These results suggest that CDA could become a major weapon in the fight against drug-resistant malaria," said Chris Hentschel, chief executive officer of the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
The drug, which could be available by 2008, is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline, WHO and medical researchers.
In a separate study, Wilfred Mbacham of the University of Yaounde said commonly used drugs are becoming less effective in Cameroon as mosquito-carried malaria becomes more resistant.
He said that also supports using combination therapies based on artemisinin drugs, which are derived from the wormwood plant.
