Rwanda launches Africa’s first trial of long-acting malaria prevention injection

Nairobi, Kenya, November 6 - Rwanda has initiated the world's first clinical trial for a long-acting injectable malaria prevention drug, potentially revolutionizing the approach to combating the mosquito-borne illness. The Phase 1b trial, spearheaded by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in collaboration with Rwanda's health research organization Rinda Ubuzima, aims to assess the safety and tolerability of MMV371, a novel drug designed to offer prolonged protection against malaria via a single injection.

If successful, the drug could protect individuals for an entire malaria season, eliminating the necessity for frequent preventive medication. This marks the first Phase 1 study of a malaria-prevention injectable to be conducted in Africa, involving adults and adolescents in Rwanda. The trial aims to analyze the drug's absorption and processing within the body, as well as its efficacy in preventing malaria infections.

Malaria remains a significant health challenge on the continent, despite years of investment in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. According to the World Health Organization, malaria resulted in over 280 million cases and more than 600,000 deaths globally in 2024, with Africa bearing nearly 95% of the fatalities. Antimalarial drug resistance, shifting disease patterns due to climate-related extreme weather events, and weakened health systems have intensified the need for innovative prevention strategies.

MMV believes the injectable could supplement existing interventions, such as mosquito control measures, malaria vaccines, and preventive medicines, should subsequent trials validate its safety and efficacy. Dr. Martin Fitchet, MMV's CEO, emphasized that long-acting injectables have the potential to redefine malaria prevention by delivering sustained protection from a single administration.

The Rwandan study builds upon previous research conducted in the United Kingdom, where MMV371 demonstrated good tolerability in healthy adults and the potential to provide protection for around three months. This phase of the trial will determine if similar safety and tolerability results can be observed among participants in a malaria-endemic African setting.

Beyond its medical implications, the trial underscores the increasing role of African research institutions in developing and testing new health technologies. Marie Michele Umulisa, Executive Director of Rinda Ubuzima, highlighted that conducting the study in Rwanda would bolster local scientific capacity and ensure African institutions actively contribute to creating solutions for communities affected by malaria.

"Conducting this study in Rwanda demonstrates that partnerships such as this are essential to ensuring that African researchers and institutions are active contributors to the development of solutions for the communities and countries that need them most," she stated. The partnership exemplifies a broader initiative to increase early-stage clinical research in malaria-endemic countries, enabling African researchers and communities to participate in the development of medicines tailored to their populations.

While the injectable remains experimental and requires further evaluation before potential widespread use, researchers believe it could broaden the options available to at-risk populations.