Researchers have unveiled a promising new antimalarial drug candidate known as MK-7602, designed to tackle the increasing challenge of drug resistance while potentially reducing the transmission of malaria. Developed through a collaboration between the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and global biopharmaceutical company MSD (the trade name of Merck & Co., Inc.), this first-in-class drug has shown encouraging results in preclinical research published in eBiomedicine, a journal of The Lancet.
The novel candidate targets the malaria parasite at various stages of its life cycle, making it applicable for both treating infections and curbing disease spread. The ongoing emergence of drug-resistant parasites complicates global efforts to eliminate malaria, a disease that claims approximately 600,000 lives each year, with children under five being particularly vulnerable. Alarmingly, a child succumbs to malaria every minute.
MK-7602 specifically targets the most prevalent malaria parasites in humans, namely Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The drug employs a unique dual-action strategy by inhibiting two critical parasite enzymes, which could significantly lower the risk of developing resistance. Professor Alan Cowman AC, the lead investigator at WEHI, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced treatments to advance global eradication efforts.
“The evaluation of MK-7602 represents an important step in our fight against malaria,” Professor Cowman stated. “Its ability to target multiple stages of the parasite life cycle, combined with its high barrier to resistance, supports our ongoing efforts to find new ways to combat this devastating disease for patients who need the hope of new treatments.”
In addition, Dr. David Olsen, a scientist at MSD and Discovery lead, highlighted the significance of MK-7602 in addressing global health challenges. “We are encouraged by these results and look forward to further investigating this candidate as a potential new tool in malaria control and elimination efforts,” he said.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Trials
The development of MK-7602 is the result of nearly a decade of collaboration between WEHI and MSD. Utilizing advanced screening technologies at WEHI’s National Drug Discovery Centre, researchers identified and optimized the compound through comprehensive studies that integrated mouse models and laboratory tests using human blood cells. The drug’s mechanism targets two essential parasite enzymes, Plasmepsin IX and Plasmepsin X, aiming to establish a robust barrier against resistance.
MK-7602 has successfully completed Phase 1 safety and tolerability studies. Recently, results from a Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating the drug’s efficacy against P. falciparum blood stage infection in healthy adult participants were presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene meeting. Further studies are necessary to comprehensively assess MK-7602’s efficacy and safety across diverse patient populations and real-world settings.
This pivotal research has garnered support from Wellcome, the Drakesnberg Trust, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The findings from the study, titled “MK-7602: a potent multi-stage dual-targeting antimalarial,” are now available in eBiomedicine (DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.106061).
The collaborative efforts between WEHI and MSD exemplify the commitment to innovative research in the fight against malaria. As the world confronts the ongoing battle against this persistent disease, the development of MK-7602 represents a hopeful advancement in the quest for effective malaria treatments.
