U of A scientist explores use of cancer drug for malaria

Researcher hopes existing medication will treat strain that takes toll on children

Children in developing countries stricken with cerebral malaria could be treated with repurposed drugs designed to assist in cancer treatment, a University of Alberta researcher says.

On top of an already high mortality rate, cerebral malaria is considered one of the most severe complications of the mosquito-borne infectious disease in children because it can have lasting impacts on survivors, said U of A department of pediatrics assistant professor Michael Hawkes.

“It takes a toll on survivors,” he said.

The World Health Organization’s most recent report on malaria pegs the total number of cases worldwide at 216 million, with an estimated 445,000 dying in 2016.

Some estimates put cases of cerebral malaria in children in Africa at 575,000 annually.

By focusing his attention on an already approved Food and Drug Administration licensed class of drugs known as tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, Hawkes said he can draw on tomes of research without being burdened with prohibitive costs associated with bringing a new drug to market.

“We’ve got to take advantage of what’s been studied,” he said.

In cancer treatment, tyrosinekinase inhibitors are meant to prevent blood vessels from growing into tumours, Hawkes said. But another effect of the drug is on protecting the blood-brain barrier from becoming leaky.

The blood-brain barrier is the lining of the vessels which protects the brain from harmful chemicals and fluid fluxes in the blood stream, Hawkes said.

“It turns out that no one has tried it with malaria as it has not been the focus of big pharma in general,” he said.

“Our hypothesis is that this will improve outcomes in children with cerebral malaria.”

Hawkes said his research was not about overhauling drug therapy for malaria, but simply adding an agent to an existing drug regime that could potentially save lives and prevent language, attention and memory impairments.

His research was given a $200,000 boost through a grant from Canadian Institute for Health Research. His work was one of five U of A research projects to share in $1.1 million from the major national funding agency.

Other U of A projects to receive funding are looking at everything from sleeping to the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the growth of infants.

Hawkes plans to undertake research on the ground in Uganda, an area he is familiar with thanks to previous collaborations.

Last year, he deployed solarpowered oxygen delivery systems at two hospitals in a bid to counter rolling brown-outs at health facilities.

It turns out that no one has tried it with malaria as it has not been the focus of big pharma in general.