On November 13, 2025, the WANECAM 2 project organized a Symposium during the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) held in Toronto, Canada. The presenters included Prof. Abdoulaye Djimde, Montserrat Blazquez-Domingo (EDCTP Representative), Cornelis Winnips, Martin Grobusch, and Fatim Ballo.
Entitled “Towards the First Non-artemisinin Combinations for falciparum Malaria: Phase 3 Results, Capacity Building in WANECAM 2 and Beyond”, this high-level scientific session brought together researchers, clinicians, institutional partners and global health stakeholders to discuss a major breakthrough in the fight against malaria.
Promising and Pivotal Phase 3 Results
The presenters shared the results of the Phase 3 clinical trial (KALUMA) of ganaplacide-lumefantrine SDF an innovative non-artemisinin-based therapeutic combination developed for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
The data demonstrated an efficacy rate exceeding 99%, confirming the strong potential of this new therapeutic combination. If approved, it could become the first fundamentally new antimalarial treatment without an artemisinin derivative in more than 25 years a strategic breakthrough in a global context increasingly challenged by resistance to artemisinin derivatives.
This milestone represents a major scientific contribution from the WANECAM 2 consortium and highlights the excellence of clinical research conducted in partner countries.
WANECAM 2: A Lasting Impact on Capacity Building
Beyond the clinical results, the symposium also highlighted WANECAM 2’s achievements in strengthening research capacity across Africa.
The program has enabled:
- The training and mentorship of researchers and clinical research personnel;
- The development and modernization of research infrastructure meeting international standards;
- The strengthening of quality systems and Good Clinical Practice (GCP);
- The consolidation of a strong and sustainable regional scientific network.
These achievements constitute a structural legacy for biomedical research in Africa and reinforce the scientific autonomy of partner institutions.
A Key Step Toward the Future
The organization of this symposium at ASTMH 2025 marked a strategic milestone on the path toward the potential registration of a new non-artemisinin therapeutic combination for malaria.
Through this major scientific contribution, the WANECAM 2 consortium reaffirms its mission: advancing excellence in clinical research, sustainably strengthening local capacities, and making a decisive contribution to the global fight against malaria.
