Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) signed collaboration agreements with two Indian pharmaceutical companies, Cipla and Strides Arcolab, for the development of rectal artesunate for pre-referral treatment of children with severe malaria.

The collaborations, established under the MMV-led 'Improving Severe Malaria Outcomes' project funded by UNITAID, aim to develop a rectal artesunate product for submission to World Health Organization prequalification.

Cipla and Strides will each develop a product building on the clinical studies led by TDR, the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases led by the WHO

The goal is to achieve WHO-prequalification of a rectal artesunate product by 2016.

"This is a significant milestone in our project to improve severe malaria outcomes," said Dr David Reddy, MMV's CEO. "We have agreed a clear pathway with these two manufacturers to bring this product to an internationally acceptable quality standard. This will help make the product available to more patients, buying more time and saving more lives. We look forward to working closely with Cipla and Strides and thank UNITAID for supporting these efforts."

Mr Subhanu Saxena, MD and global CEO, Cipla, said "We are happy to join hands with MMV that shares our ongoing commitment to fight against Malaria..... Through this collaboration, we will endeavor to make rectal artesunate accessible to each and every child with severe malaria in a pre-referral setting in malaria-endemic countries."

"We are excited to be part of this initiative, as it will expand access to quality, affordable medicines for a wider population and save more lives," said Mr Mohan Kumar, CEO, Strides Arcolab.