Message from the Chairman and CEO
It is 2021, and the world is still striving to emerge from the long, dark shadow of SARS-CoV-2. In 2020, MMV joined the global search for solutions wholeheartedly. While keeping a strong focus on our core mission to discover, develop and deliver effective antimalarials for underserved populations, we expanded our work to include efforts to respond to COVID-19 in areas where we could make a unique contribution.
The pipeline
Since its foundation in 1999, MMV and partners have brought forward 13 new medicines, which have saved an estimated 2.7 million lives.
Our antimalarial portfolio is the largest ever assembled and comprises 11 compounds in clinical development targeting unmet medical needs, including medicines for children, pregnant women and people suffering from drug-resistant malaria. These antimalarials hold the promise of contributing to the global drive towards malaria eradication as well as Sustainable Development Goal 3 to achieve good health and wellbeing for all.
Issues and response
Malaria is a treatable and preventable disease, which still kills an estimated 409,000 people each year.
The majority of lives lost are in sub-Saharan Africa, where resources are limited and health systems are fragile. The challenges associated with malaria, however, resonate on a global scale. Malaria can be viewed in the context of antimicrobial resistance and COVID-19, as well as through the lenses of gender and age.
Global health security and malaria
In a period of global uncertainty, MMV is keeping its focus on its core mission of reducing the malaria burden by safeguarding access to malaria diagnosis, prevention and treatment—all of which carry unique challenges during a pandemic. MMV is also working with partners to tackle antimalarial drug resistance and using its scientific expertise to help lessen the global impact of COVID-19.
Malaria through gender and age lenses
Infants, young children and women of childbearing age are disproportionately affected by malaria. Women and girls also bear most of the burden of caring for the ill, which stops them from attending work and school and perpetuates a cycle of poverty. Since its inception, MMV has maintained a strong focus on women and children to help alleviate the effects of malaria on these key populations.
For more information take a look at MMV’s work to generate new data on antimalarials in pregnancy in order to increase the number of available options, our efforts to combat malaria in children during COVID-19, and our improving ratings in the Global Health 50/50 Report.
The need for new tools: pioneering developments to accelerate R&D
Innovation is critical to achieving MMV’s long-term goal of reducing the burden of malaria. We have thus prioritized the creation of tools that accelerate the research and development of new antimalarial drugs. Learn how we innovate next-generation drug combinations through a collaborative, scientific platform, mathematical modelling and a free, user-friendly tool developed by MMV and partners.
Real life stories
Each person affected by malaria has a unique story. Take a look or a listen:
Eileen’s story
Eileen Buxton is a nurse in Ghana where malaria causes more than 3% of maternal deaths each year. Her job puts her in contact with malaria patients. She understands their symptoms and knows they can be fatal. So when she got sick during her pregnancy she imagined the worst.
Mohammed’s story
Mohammed Sani Muftaw is a paediatric nurse and sub-district leader in Savelugu, in the Northern Region of Ghana. He leads a team of volunteers that go house to house to administer preventive malaria medicine to children aged 3 months to 5 years living in the community.
Akullo and Aboli’s story
Akullo Conny lives with her little daughter Aboli Patricia in Oyam, Northern Uganda. Mother and daughter love each other’s company and often share domestic chores. However, it was not long ago that Akullo almost lost her only child to an episode of severe malaria.
Raquel’s story
Nossa Senhora de Fatima is a remote village located in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon. Although it is one of the most beautiful places in Brazil, the Amazonian region accounts for 99.5% of all national malaria cases. Raquel da Silva lives in Nossa Senhora de Fatima with her family. For Raquel, the burden of P. vivax malaria is heavy. Not only has she been ill with the disease many times, but she also has to care for each member of her family who have been infected one after the other.
Milestones
The WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 provides a framework built on three pillars including key targets for all malaria-endemic countries working towards control and elimination.
Reaching these targets will contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.' In 2020, MMV and key partners made important strides towards meeting these targets. Click the links below to find out how.
Accelerating efforts towards elimination and attainment of malaria-free status
Ensuring universal access to malaria prevention and treatment
Strengthening the enabling environment
Harnessing innovation and expanding research
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Finances
Medicines for Malaria Venture receives sustained funding and support from government agencies, private foundations, international organizations, corporations, corporate foundations and private individuals.
These funds are used to finance MMV’s portfolio of R&D projects as well as specific, targeted access and delivery interventions that aim to make it easier for vulnerable populations to gain access to lifesaving medicines.
2020 Expenditures: 86% directly supported R&D and access activities
Donors
MMV is grateful for the support in 2020 received from private individuals and from the following institutional donors:
Credits
Photos from top to bottom:
Home (Emmanuel Museruka/MMV); Message from Chairman and CEO (woman on cargo bicycle [Toby Madden/Transaid]); Pipeline: (Shutterstock); Global Health Security and malaria (James Roh/Cotopaxi Foundation); Malaria through gender and age lenses (Toby Madden/Transaid); The need for new tools (Shutterstock); Eileen's story (Eileen Buxton); Milestone 1 (Damien Schumann/MMV); Milestone 2 (Emmanuel Museruka/MMV), Milestone 3 (Emmanuel Museruka/MMV); Milestone 4 (Darren Baker/Shutterstock); Milestone 5 (Denis Ngai/Pexels).