AI Platform Promises Cheaper, Long-Lasting Malaria Prevention
Eyam Health Partners with MMV to Revolutionize Treatment Delivery
A new partnership is set to transform malaria prevention, leveraging artificial intelligence to create affordable, long-acting treatments. Vancouver-based Eyam Health is collaborating with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) to develop innovative solutions for this persistent global health challenge.
AI Drives Drug Discovery
Eyam Health’s novel approach utilizes its proprietary Jennerator platform, powered by artificial intelligence, to design medications. This AI-driven process aims to significantly reduce development costs, potentially cutting them by more than half compared to traditional methods.
Innovative Antibody Delivery System
The collaboration will focus on Eyam’s Gemini system, which is designed to develop and deliver monoclonal antibodies. These lab-made proteins are engineered to stimulate the immune system to fight diseases like malaria. Eyam Health, which has received substantial grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its Gemini platform, asserts that a single, extended-release injection could offer protection for an entire rainy season.
Eyam has received multiple grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop its Gemini platform.
A key advantage of the Gemini system, according to Eyam, is its ability to facilitate medication delivery without the need for cold storage. Furthermore, it can administer multiple antibodies in a single dose that is anticipated to cost less than one dollar. This contrasts sharply with current malaria vaccines, which can range from $2 to $4 per dose, according to the World Health Organization.
Targeting Parasite Lifecycle and Local Production
Eyam’s Gemini delivery system is designed to target various stages of the malaria parasite’s lifecycle. The company also emphasizes that the technology can be easily adapted for local manufacturing in African communities heavily affected by malaria, fostering greater accessibility and sustainability.
“The approach to develop affordable monoclonal antibodies with longer dosing intervals could be truly transformative for improving delivery and efficacy of broadscale preventive malaria campaigns including potential use in mass administration campaigns to accelerate malaria elimination.”
—Brice Campo, Senior Director at MMV
Global Impact and Reach
Founded in 2020 by Dr. Wilfred Jefferies, Eyam Health targets infectious diseases, cancer, and chronic conditions with its AI platforms. The World Health Organization reported an estimated 263 million malaria cases in 2023, resulting in 597,000 deaths, predominantly among young children. MMV, established in 1999, has supported treatments for approximately 711 million individuals to date.
The World Malaria Report 2023 highlights that the African region carries the highest malaria burden, accounting for 94% of all cases and deaths. Innovative solutions like Eyam’s AI-driven approach hold significant promise in the global effort to reduce this burden.