Blood Disorder Drug Boosts Immune System Against Malaria

A medication already approved for treating blood disorders might hold the key to saving hundreds of thousands of lives lost to malaria annually.

Researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute found that ruxolitinib, when added to standard malaria treatment, helps reduce dangerous inflammation while strengthening the immune system against future infections. The discovery addresses a critical gap in current treatments, which kill the malaria parasite but don't protect against the body's harmful inflammatory response.

Malaria claims more than 600,000 lives each year, with three out of four victims being children under age five. Even when patients survive with current treatments, many develop only partial immunity, leaving them vulnerable to getting sick again.

The clinical trial involved 20 healthy volunteers who were deliberately infected with the malaria parasite under carefully monitored conditions. Eight days later, all participants received standard treatment, but 11 also took ruxolitinib. Three months later, researchers reinfected everyone to test how well their immune systems remembered the disease.

The results showed something remarkable. Participants who received ruxolitinib had lower inflammation levels and showed positive changes in markers linked to disease severity. The drug was safe and well tolerated by all volunteers.

Associate Professor Bridget Barber, who led the research, explains that antimalarial drugs excel at killing the parasite but don't address the inflammation that contributes to severe illness and death. By targeting both the parasite and the body's inflammatory response, doctors might be able to save more lives.

Why This Inspires

The timing couldn't be more crucial. Current malaria vaccines offer limited protection that doesn't last long, making it harder to eliminate the disease in affected regions. Professor Christian Engwerda notes that boosting the immune system without causing harmful inflammation could overcome these challenges and bring researchers closer to their goal of wiping out malaria.

The study focused on healthy volunteers who didn't live in malaria-affected areas, so researchers need to conduct additional trials in regions where malaria is common. These future studies will determine whether the findings translate into real-world benefits for the patients who need them most.

The research, published in Science Translational Medicine, represents a new approach to fighting one of the world's deadliest diseases. Instead of just attacking the parasite, scientists are now learning to help the body defend itself more effectively.

For families in malaria-endemic regions who face the constant threat of this disease, particularly parents of young children, this discovery offers genuine hope that better treatments may be on the horizon.