About 40% of the world's population lives in malaria endemic areas. An estimated 200 million people fall ill there each year.
Malaria is a tropical disease and is one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. It occurs endemically in tropical and subtropical regions of all continents – except Australia – in about 100 countries.
Worldwide, more than 400,000 people die of malaria each year, about two-thirds of whom are children under the age of five.
Malaria is acquired predominantly in countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, with Africa being the most affected, accounting for about 90% of cases (source: RKI).
Malaria tropica is the most dangerous type of malaria and is associated with a lethality (mortality) of up to 20% in non-immune patients if left untreated.
Since 2015, we have been conducting a study on a new treatment protocol for acute malaria tropica in cooperation with the Oyo State Ministry of Health in Ibadan, Nigeria and Weber Medical GmbH.
The so-called photodynamic therapy by means of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and systemic laser application aims at a direct inactivation of the malaria parasites with simultaneous immune stimulation.
Results in the first patients were extremely promising (8 of 9 patients were parasite and symptom free after a 5-day treatment cycle). Subsequently, a follow-up study with 100 patients was started, which we actively support through our sponsorship and scientific supervision. Results are expected shortly and are expected to be published promptly and presented at medical conferences worldwide.
If the data from the first study are confirmed, we also plan to conduct further studies and make the therapy available in as many clinics as possible worldwide (with a focus on Africa) to help significantly reduce malaria mortality rates (especially among young and vulnerable people).
