{
  "id": 18498134,
  "title": "Africa: Rwanda Launches Africa's First Trial of Long-Acting Malaria Prevention Injection",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/africa-rwanda-launches-africas-first-trial-of-long-acting-malaria",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-06T12:23:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica Health",
    "slug": "allafrica-health",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202611060285.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rwanda has initiated Africa's inaugural clinical trial of a long-acting injectable drug for malaria prevention, potentially revolutionizing the way the disease is combated. This Phase 1b trial, spearheaded by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in collaboration with Rwanda's health research body Rinda Ubuzima, evaluates the safety and tolerability of MMV371, a novel drug designed to deliver prolonged malaria protection through a single injection. If MMV371 proves safe and effective, it could protect individuals for an entire malaria season, diminishing the reliance on frequent preventive medication. The trial, the first of its kind conducted in Africa, will engage adults and adolescents in Rwanda and aims to assess the drug's absorption and processing in the body, as well as its potential efficacy in preventing malaria infections. Malaria remains a significant health challenge in Africa, with the continent accounting for nearly 95% of malaria-related deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance, climate change-induced disease pattern shifts, and health system limitations have intensified the need for innovative prevention strategies. MMV asserts that the injectable could supplement existing interventions, such as mosquito control, malaria vaccines, and preventive medications, if subsequent trials confirm its safety and efficacy. Dr. Martin Fitchet, MMV's Chief Executive Officer, emphasized that long-acting injectables could redefine malaria prevention, offering sustained protection from a single dose and broadening available options for at-risk communities. The Rwandan study builds upon earlier research conducted in the UK, where MMV371 demonstrated good tolerability in healthy adults and the potential to offer protection for around three months. The expanded trial will determine if comparable safety and tolerability results can be observed among participants in a malaria-prone African environment. Beyond its medical implications, the trial underscores the increasing role of African research institutions in the creation and testing of new health technologies. Rinda Ubuzima, Executive Director of Rinda Ubuzima, highlighted that conducting the study in Rwanda would bolster local scientific capacity while ensuring African institutions actively contribute to the development of interventions tailored to communities affected by malaria. The partnership also reflects a broader initiative to increase early-stage clinical research in malaria-endemic countries, allowing African researchers and communities to participate in the development of medicines intended for their populations. While the injectable remains experimental and necessitates further clinical evaluation before potential broader use, researchers posit that it could expand the available options for individuals at risk of malaria.",
  "summary": "[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Rwanda has launched Africa's first clinical trial of a long-acting injectable drug for malaria prevention, marking a potential shift in how the disease is prevented as drug resistance and climate change threaten progress against the mosquito-borne illness.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Rwanda launches Africa’s first trial of long-acting malaria prevention injection",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/rwanda-launches-africas-first-trial-of-long-acting-malaria-prevention",
        "published": "2026-11-06T11:08:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}