New Malaria Drug GanLum Shows Over 97 Percent Cure Rate — A Potential Game-Changer for Africa
A new antimalarial medicine developed by global pharmaceutical firm Novartis in collaboration with the nonprofit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in a late-stage clinical trial. The drug — a combination known as GanLum (ganaplacide/lumefantrine) — showed over 97 percent cure rates in a Phase III trial involving 1,688 adults and children across 12 African countries. Researchers say GanLum works differently from existing treatments, attacking the malaria parasite in a novel way and targeting forms of the parasite that have started showing resistance to frontline drugs. Importantly, the drug also appears to block transmission by killing the forms of the parasite responsible for further spread. Novartis plans to seek regulatory approval, aiming to make GanLum available within the next 12–18 months on a non-profit basis for malaria-endemic countries.
Why it matters
For a region like East Africa — including Uganda — where malaria remains a leading killer, rising parasite resistance has threatened decades of progress. GanLum could reset the fight against malaria, offering a highly effective treatment that restores confidence in cure outcomes and helps curb transmission across communities.
What to watch
Follow updates from health regulators in Uganda and other African countries on approval and rollout plans. Monitor how government health ministries and donors integrate GanLum into national treatment protocols. Watch also for pricing decisions and distribution strategies, especially in rural and high-transmission zones.
