A clinical trial will test the effectiveness of a new antimalarial drug that could help to combat the mosquito-borne disease in parts of the world where malaria parasites are becoming resistant to current treatments.

The University of the Sunshine Coast, in partnership with Geneva-based non-for-profit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute (QIMR) in Brisbane, is seeking healthy volunteers to participate in the phase 1 clinical trial.

Principal Investigator, Dr Bridget Barber said that antimalarial drug resistance was a major problem worldwide, and new treatment strategies for malaria were urgently needed.

“This study will provide valuable information about the ability of this new drug to kill malaria parasites, and the dose of the drug required," Dr Barber said.

While malaria is not of concern in Australia, it remains endemic in various parts of the world, including Africa, Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, and the East Mediterranean regions.

According to the World Health Organisation’s world malaria report 2022 , there were an estimated 247 million cases of malaria globally, resulting in 619,000 deaths, with the most vulnerable group being children under five years old.

UniSC Clinical Trials’ Director Lucas Litewka said UniSC was fortunate to partner with MMV and QIMR again on another critical study addressing a persistent global health challenge.

“We always see an enthusiastic response from participants in our malaria studies and again we would like to put a call out to healthy volunteers in our community to assist us in this important research,” Mr Litewka said.

“This is an opportunity to contribute to the global effort to combat malaria and advance the development of new treatments,” he said.

Participants must be aged between 18 and 55 years, in good health, and meet eligibility criteria, which they can discuss confidentially with research coordinators.

Study participants will be required to stay at UniSC Clinical Trial’s Moreton Bay clinic for four nights, under the care of an expert clinical trials team, and attend approximately 15 in-clinic visits at the Brisbane clinic.

For further information or to register interest, visit usc.edu.au/trials.