- In a just-published article detailing clinical trial results for Novartis' (NVS -1.2%) antimalarial drug candidate, KAE609 (cipargamin), the parasite was cleared in adult patients in a median time of only 12 hours, including patients with resistant infections.
- KAE609 is the first compound is the spiroindolone class of treatment. It inhibits the P-type cation-transporter ATPase4 (PfATP4), which regulates sodium concentration in plasmodium. The inhibition raises the level of sodium in the parasite to a fatal level.
- The preliminary results are welcome news to malaria researchers because the parasites are developing resistance to artemisinin, the current standard of care.