Antibody Drug Tested as New Tool against Malaria
2022-11-07
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1A new study carried out in the West African nation of Mali found that an experimental drug protected adults against malaria for at least six months.
2The one-dose drug is the latest possible treatment for the disease spread by mosquitos.
3Malaria killed more than 620,000 people in 2020 and sickened 241 million.
4They were mainly children under the age of 5 in Africa.
5The World Health Organization is releasing the first malaria vaccine for children.
6But it is just 30 percent effective and requires four doses.
7The new study tested a very different idea.
8The drug gives people a large dose of lab-made malaria-fighting antibodies.
9The vaccine depends on the immune system to make enough of those same infection-blockers after vaccination.
10Dr. Kassoum Kayentao is with the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies in Bamako, Mali.
11He helped lead the study in two small villages in Mali.
12He said the "available vaccine doesn't protect enough people."
13During malaria season in some places in Mali, people are bitten by infected mosquitoes on an average of twice a day.
14The experimental antibody was created by researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
15It is given intravenously, or directly into the veins.
16The drug would be difficult to release to a large amount of people.
17But scientists are also testing a shot version of the treatment, which would be easier to give out.
18The U.S. government research was published Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine and was presented at a medical meeting in Seattle.
19The antibody works by breaking the life cycle of the parasite, which is spread through mosquito bites.
20It targets parasites early before they enter the liver, where they can grow and multiply.
21The drug was created from an antibody taken from a volunteer who received a malaria vaccine.
22The research involved 330 adults in Mali.
23The study participants got either one of two different antibody doses or a placebo - a substance given to a patient like a drug but has no physical effect on the patient.
24All participants were tested for malaria infection every two weeks for 24 weeks.
25Anyone who got sick was treated.
26Infections were found by blood test in 20 people who got the higher dose.
27Infections were found in 39 people who got the lower dose.
28Eighty-six people who got the placebo became infected during the study period.
29The higher dose was 88 percent effective, compared to the placebo.
30The lower dose was 75 percent effective.
31Protection might last during the several months of malaria season.
32The cost is not yet known. But one estimate suggests lab-made antibodies could be given for just $5 per child per malaria season.
33Dr. Johanna Daily is with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
34She was not involved in the study.
35She said lab-made antibodies are used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and COVID-19.
36"The good news is now we have another, immune-based therapy to try to control malaria," she said.
37I'm Dan Novak.
1A new study carried out in the West African nation of Mali found that an experimental drug protected adults against malaria for at least six months. The one-dose drug is the latest possible treatment for the disease spread by mosquitos. 2Malaria killed more than 620,000 people in 2020 and sickened 241 million. They were mainly children under the age of 5 in Africa. 3The World Health Organization is releasing the first malaria vaccine for children. But it is just 30 percent effective and requires four doses. 4The new study tested a very different idea. The drug gives people a large dose of lab-made malaria-fighting antibodies. The vaccine depends on the immune system to make enough of those same infection-blockers after vaccination. 5Dr. Kassoum Kayentao is with the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies in Bamako, Mali. He helped lead the study in two small villages in Mali. He said the "available vaccine doesn't protect enough people." 6During malaria season in some places in Mali, people are bitten by infected mosquitoes on an average of twice a day. 7The experimental antibody was created by researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It is given intravenously, or directly into the veins. 8The drug would be difficult to release to a large amount of people. But scientists are also testing a shot version of the treatment, which would be easier to give out. 9The U.S. government research was published Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine and was presented at a medical meeting in Seattle. 10The antibody works by breaking the life cycle of the parasite, which is spread through mosquito bites. It targets parasites early before they enter the liver, where they can grow and multiply. The drug was created from an antibody taken from a volunteer who received a malaria vaccine. 11The research involved 330 adults in Mali. The study participants got either one of two different antibody doses or a placebo - a substance given to a patient like a drug but has no physical effect on the patient. All participants were tested for malaria infection every two weeks for 24 weeks. Anyone who got sick was treated. 12Infections were found by blood test in 20 people who got the higher dose. Infections were found in 39 people who got the lower dose. Eighty-six people who got the placebo became infected during the study period. 13The higher dose was 88 percent effective, compared to the placebo. The lower dose was 75 percent effective. 14Protection might last during the several months of malaria season. 15The cost is not yet known. But one estimate suggests lab-made antibodies could be given for just $5 per child per malaria season. 16Dr. Johanna Daily is with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She was not involved in the study. She said lab-made antibodies are used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and COVID-19. 17"The good news is now we have another, immune-based therapy to try to control malaria," she said. 18I'm Dan Novak. 19Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 20______________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time 23antibody - n. a substance produced by the body to fight disease 24immune system - n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 25vein - n. any one of the tubes that carry blood from parts of the body back to the heart 26cycle - n. a set of events or actions that happen again and again in the same order 27parasite - n. an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it 28multiply - v. to increase greatly in number or amount 29participant - n. a person who is involved in an activity or event 30therapy - n. the treatment of physical or mental illnesses