Genzyme, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Advinus collaborate on malaria initiative

The Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology firm Genzyme on Monday announced it will collaborate with the not-for-profit group Medicines for Malaria Venture and the Indian pharmaceutical company Advinus Therapeutics to develop new malaria treatments, the Boston Business Journal reports.

The Broad Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University will provide research assistance to the partnership, according to the Journal (Boston Business Journal, 8/25).

The partnership aims to develop new and enhanced treatments for populations most at-risk for malaria, particularly pregnant women and infants (Reidy, Boston Globe, 8/25). The partnership will focus on identifying molecules that are effective at fighting malaria from early screening to preclinical assessment. In addition, the partnership plans to develop treatments that address resistance to existing malaria treatments (Economic Times, 8/26).

According to company statements, Genzyme will not seek to profit from any products developed under the partnership, which will be carried out through the company's Humanitarian Assistance for Neglected Diseases initiative (McConville, Boston Herald, 8/26). The companies did not release the financial terms of the agreement, according to the Journal (Boston Business Journal, 8/25).

The collaboration "is a powerful example of how industry can partner with others to fight the devastating impact of diseases affecting the developing world," Henri Termeer, chair and CEO of Genzyme, said (Economic Times, 8/26). Chris Hentschel, president of MMV, added that new malaria treatments are "urgently needed" to "stop this unacceptable loss of life" from malaria (Boston Herald, 8/26).