Background

In 2020, nearly half of the world’s population was at risk of malaria and according to the latest World Health Organization Malaria Report, there were 241 million cases of malaria infection, resulting in 627 000 deaths.

Over the last decade, there is a growing need for antimalarial agents, either for monotherapy or as multi-drug therapies as drug-resistant strains are emerging worldwide, in particular mefloquine and chloroquine resistant strains. Therefore, new agents able to kill the resistant malaria parasites are warranted.

Technology Overview

This technology relates to halogenated alkyl-aromatic secondary metabolites, in particular hierridin C from the cyanobacterium Cyanobium sp. LEGE 06113 and its application as an antimalarial and anticancer agent. Furthermore, this technology comprises the methods to obtain the compound from the Cyanobium sp. LEGE 06113 and to methods to chemically synthetize hierridin C and its derivatives under laboratory conditions.

The solution herein relates to processes used to obtain a new compound – hierridin C – from the cyanobacterial cultures, and to compounds sharing the same halogenated skeleton (), and to its use in formulations for treating, preventing or inhibiting malaria in humans.

Further Details:

Structure of Hierridin C, Synthesis of Hierridins B and C, and Evidence for Prevalent Alkylresorcinol Biosynthesis in Picocyanobacteria: J. Nat. Prod. 2019, 82, 393−402

Stage of Development

TRL (Technology Readiness Level): 4 – The technology was validated in the laboratory.

Further development for validation in large scale setups required.

Benefits

The advantage of this invention is that there is no strain of P. falciparum known to be resistant to halogenated alkyl-aromatic secondary metabolite, in particular hierridin C and its derivatives. This is relevant as death by malaria is almost exclusively caused by P. falciparum.

The hierridin C is a natural product and can be obtained from a renewable, photoautotrophic source by mass culturing in the laboratory or open ponds or alternatively it may be chemically synthetized.

Applications

The hierridin C is a new antimalarial agent, which can be used to treat malaria, one of the most prevalent and life threatening infectious diseases in the developing world.

Opportunity

Available for licensing, research and product development agreements.

Collaboration for further validation in large scale setups.

Antimalarial Agent, Methods and Uses Thereof

Patents

IP Status

Seeking