Edinburgh Research and Innovation is seeking partners to commercialise the next generation of malaria drugs and vaccine.

Edinburgh University has announced that it has identified a key protein that could prove the turning point in the fight against malaria.

The University’s commercialisation unit, Edinburgh Research and Innovation, is now actively seeking investment partners in order to commercialise the research into an effective drug or vaccine.

Researchers at Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences found a protein which binds red blood cells and causes lethal clotting ‘rosettes’ common to different strains of the malaria parasite. Initial research found that antibodies which target the protein are proving very effective at blocking the development of malaria.

Professor Alexandra Rowe, who led the research project, said: “We were aware that the blood cell rosettes were apparent in many cases of life-threatening malaria, so we looked at rosette-forming parasites and found a common factor that could be targeted with antibodies. With this research yielding positive results, investigations into the viability of new treatments and vaccines to eradicate the formation of rosettes and prevent instances of life threatening malaria are now underway.”

Dr Wendy Nicholson, head of business development at Edinburgh Research and Innovation, added: “The quest now is to stimulate pharmaceutical companies into the funding of early stage vaccine and drug development programmes that offer genuine hope in halting the alarming death rate prevalence of this disease. This research carried out at the University of Edinburgh offers an innovative and pioneering breakthrough and casts new light on seeking a fresh scientific approach to tacking life-threatening malaria.”