Naledi Pandor

A compound that has the potential to cure malaria in a single dose has been discovered by researchers from the Universityof Cape Town (UCT).

The announcement was made in Cape Townyesterday by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.

“I am excited by the role that our excellent scientists have played in this milestone in finding a potential cure for malaria and possibly preventing transmission,” said Pandor, whose department contributed R25-million to the research.

The compound was 100 percent successful curing malaria in animals, and may also be able to block transmission from mosquitoes to humans and eradicate malaria altogether.

South Africa's science minister, Naledi Pandor, has called for increased efforts by African nations to build both a greater ability to carry out research relevant to their specific health challenges, and the capacity to put such research to use.

THE government’s planned joint venture with Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer Lonza to produce the active ingredient in antiretroviral drugs would narrow SA’s growing trade deficit in the pharmaceutical sector, the government said last week.

Pharmaceutical imports are the fifth-largest contributor to SA’s trade deficit — at R21,3bn for the first 11 months of last year — and SA is the largest market for antiretrovirals, accounting for 20% of global demand. The state’s tender for antiretrovirals in 2010 was worth R4,3bn.

The joint venture, to be called the Ketlaphela project, involves four government departments: health, science and technology, trade and industry, and economic development.