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Cheap Malaria Drug Holds Promise for Millions

It's based on 2000-year-old herbal remedy

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2008 3:15 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The lives of millions of children  may be saved by a new technique for producing a malaria drug at a 10th of the cost of current treatments, making it accessible the world's most impoverished people, reports the Independent.  The technique involves inserting a dozen synthetic genes into yeast cells, then fermenting them, with sugar, in giant vats, to produce the active ingredient, artemisinin.

Bill and Melinda Gates financed research which will mass produce the drug,  based on a 2000-year-old Chinese remedy that uses the dried leaves and flowers of sweet wormwood. "The process is very similar to brewing beer—but we're talking about turning on 12 genes simultaneously," said a scientist. "We want it to be affordable to people who need it, to be available to people who need it, and we don't want it to be abused."

Bill and Melinda Gates address a forum of 300 malaria scientists and policy makers with the goal of eradicating the disease worldwide.
Bill and Melinda Gates address a forum of 300 malaria scientists and policy makers with the goal of eradicating the disease worldwide.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A child suffering from severe malaria is treated at a hospital in Mozambique. A new process for making an anti-malaria drug may save millions of children's lives.
A child suffering from severe malaria is treated at a hospital in Mozambique. A new process for making an anti-malaria drug may save millions of children's lives.   (AP Photo/Marcus Bleasdale, Roll Back Malaria Project)
A mosquito, whose bites can spread malaria. A new process for mass producing a genetically engineered malaria drug may save millions of lives.
A mosquito, whose bites can spread malaria. A new process for mass producing a genetically engineered malaria drug may save millions of lives.   ((c) sabandija i%u266B da house)
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Malaria drug to be made from 'synthetic biology' organism
Telegraph (UK)

Scientists find new weapon in fight against malaria
AFP

Science • Money • World

 
malaria • genetic modification • artemisinin • UC Berkeley • mosquito • World Health Organization • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation • genetic engineering • Chinese medicine • synthetic biology • bioreactor • Artemesia annua • wormwood • Royal Society • Jay Keasling

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