Last Updated: 19/10/2026
Single dose cure of falciparum malaria using next generation combinations (WANECAM III)
Objectives
WANECAM3 aims to develop a single-dose cure for uncomplicated falciparum malaria to address the public health challenge posed by malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The project will conduct Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel drug combinations, while also enhancing research capacity and facilitating regulatory approval for new treatments.
Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia
Health Action Research Group (GRAS), Burkina Faso
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Switzerland
KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya
Makerere University, Uganda
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Switzerland
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom
Tübingen University, Germany
Medical Research Center Lambarene (CERMEL), Gabon
Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for approximately 263 million global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths in 2023. The increasing emergence of partial artemisinin resistance markers and poor adherence to current multi-day antimalarial regimens necessitate the development of novel, effective, and accessible treatments. WANECAM3 aims to address this challenge by developing a single-dose cure for uncomplicated falciparum malaria using next-generation, non-artemisinin drug combinations. Building on the successes of WANECAM and WANECAM2, the WANECAM3 consortium, supported by new clinical trial partners, will conduct Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials across SSA countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia). The trials will evaluate the safety, efficacy, and transmission-blocking properties of novel drug combinations (KAE609, INE963, MMV533) in both adult and pediatric populations, with the ultimate goal of achieving a single-dose cure. An innovative trial platform study design will accelerate drug development by enabling adaptive trial methodologies to identify optimal treatment regimens. The project includes generating clinical data to support the progression of a promising single-dose combination therapy towards regulatory approval. Additionally, WANECAM3 will strengthen research capacity in SSA by expanding clinical trial infrastructure, training researchers and healthcare professionals, and fostering long-term expertise in antimalarial drug development and resistance surveillance. Beyond clinical impact, WANECAM3 will work closely with national and regional regulatory bodies to facilitate the rapid adoption of next-generation treatments. The introduction of a single-dose regimen has the potential to improve adherence, reduce transmission, and ease the burden on already strained health systems, ultimately accelerating progress towards malaria elimination in SSA and globally.
Jun 2026 — May 2031
$12.03M
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