Single Exposure Radical Cure for Blood Stage Malaria

This project aims to investigate UCT594 as a valuable new medicine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, thereby addressing the critical issue of increasing drug resistance. UCT594 stands out for its high oral bioavailability, long half-life, minimal off-target pharmacology, and novel mechanism of action through the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K), which distinguishes it from antimalarials currently used or in development. This differentiation suggests that UCT594 would not be prone to cross-resistance with existing therapies. UCT594 is positioned as a first-in-class, single-dose cure for malaria due to its high antiactivity and favorable pharmacokinetics, with a predicted human half-life of over 50 hours—which is significantly longer than that of current frontline therapies. The project envisions UCT594 as a frontline oral therapy for malaria in endemic regions, offering a safe and cost-effective treatment for children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age.