Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, killing hundreds of thousands of people each year, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug resistance in the most dangerous species, Plasmodium falciparum, remains a serious threat to existing treatments.
What's actually going on in research
Two malaria vaccines — RTS,S/AS01 and R21 — are now recommended by the World Health Organization and are being rolled out in high-burden African countries, marking a historic milestone. Trials are testing next-generation vaccines with higher and longer-lasting protection, new antimalarial drug combinations, and novel tools including monoclonal antibodies for seasonal prevention. Transmission-blocking strategies that prevent mosquitoes from spreading the parasite are also in active trials.
Next-generation vaccines
Building on the approved RTS,S and R21 vaccines, trials are testing mRNA-based and viral-vector malaria vaccines aiming for higher protection rates and longer durability against multiple Plasmodium strains.
Preventive monoclonal antibodies
Long-acting monoclonal antibodies targeting the Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein are being tested for seasonal prevention, potentially offering high protection with a single injection per transmission season.
Transmission-blocking strategies
Vaccines and drugs that target sexual-stage parasites in the human host are being developed to interrupt transmission from humans to mosquitoes, reducing community-level spread.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on geographic location, age, malaria transmission intensity, and prior exposure or vaccination history.
What types of trials are currently open
- Vaccine trials — Testing new and improved vaccines to prevent infection across different age groups and transmission settings.
- Drug treatment trials — Evaluating new antimalarial drug combinations to overcome resistance and shorten treatment courses.
- Preventive drug trials — Studying seasonal or intermittent preventive treatment strategies in children and pregnant women.
- Monoclonal antibody trials — Testing long-acting antibodies for protection in high-transmission settings.
- Transmission-blocking trials — Evaluating strategies that reduce spread from infected individuals to mosquitoes.
Recently added Malaria trials
Safety and Efficacy of Imatinib in Combination With Artemether-Lumefantrine for Uncomplicated Malaria
This study is investigating an innovative approach to treating uncomplicated malaria by adding a drug called Imatinib to the current standard of care, Artemether + Lumefantrine (AL). The researchers hope this combination, known as ALIM, will clear infections faster and stop the spread of drug-resistant parasites that are becoming a major threat in Africa
Primaquine for Vivax Malaria in G6PD Intermediate and Deficient Cases.
A non randomized observation study that is aiming to assess the safety and efficacy of high dose primaquine (1mg/kg per day over 7 days) among patients with intermediate (30-70%) G6PD activity and the safety and efficacy of weekly primaquine among patients who are g6Pd deficient (\<30% activity)
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