IVCC’s External Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC) welcomes two new experts, Dr Egon Weinmueller and Dr Samwel Okello. They join following a ‘call for experts’ in the development and manufacturing of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs).

The ESAC provides expert specialist technical assessments of IVCC’s portfolio of products, including project selection, transition, and termination. They provide advice to the IVCC management team during periodic reviews of the projects. Membership of the ESAC is through nomination of candidates with the required expertise.

Dr Egon Weinmueller has a PhD in Agriculture, International Trade and Policy. He is member of RBM VCWG. Egon retired from BASF after a career including Regional Management responsibilities for BASF Agricultural Products Division in various parts of the world and as head of the BASF Global Public Health unit in developing and bringing new products to market for indoor residual spraying (IRS) and ITNs.

Dr Samwel Okello brings 10 years of research experience in vector-borne diseases. He is currently involved in developing and improving technologies that save lives, including Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets, Indoor Residual Sprays, Larvicides and Spatial Repellents. Samwel brings a wealth of experienced in evaluation of vector control products in laboratory and semi-field studies using standard WHO protocols. He formerly worked for International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology as a research fellow in arbovirus research.

More details on the role and responsibilities of ESAC members, visit ivcc.com/research-development/esacs/

Dr Egon Weinmueller

Dr Samwel Okello

Download the Tech Updates highlighting vector biology and control news, publications and resources.

Given the breadth of vector control-related literature, we are unable to include all relevant work. These updates are intended to focus primarily on Anopheles biology and a subset of control topics with global relevance. Any views expressed in the updates do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IVCC. In many cases, we directly quote sections of published work. Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by IVCC or its funders.

Today, April 25^th,  we recognise World Malaria Day. It is an occasion to highlight the impact that this disease has on the under-served populations in endemic countries; to galvanise global efforts to end malaria and emphasise the need for sustained political commitment and continued investment for malaria control and elimination.

Since the year 2000, the scale-up of interventions in countries, supported by global partnerships and sustained investment, has transformed the fight against malaria – preventing 2 billion malaria cases, saving 11.7 million lives, and putting eradication within reach.

However, significant challenges lie ahead. Insecticide and drug resistance, new biological threats, the impact of climate change and humanitarian emergencies, as well as funding gaps and pressure on resources threaten to stall progress toward malaria eradication goals.

The theme of this year’s World Malaria Day, ‘Innovate, Invest and Implement’, highlights the role that innovation plays, across the malaria community, to address the future challenges.

IVCC has had the responsibility of steering investments from various funding organisations over the past 15+ years into the development and delivery of new vector control tools, in partnership with industry.

Investments over the last decade have been successful, with new products (both in ITNs and IRS insecticides) developed and deployed and delivering impact in countries.

Insecticide resistance remains one of the biggest threats to achieving malaria elimination. Industry engagement and support via partnership with IVCC, have delivered innovations to address this threat.

Products such as the recently WHO-PQ listed VECTRON™ T500, a new indoor residual spray product, developed by Mitsui Chemicals Crop & Life Solutions, Inc. containing TENEBENAL™; Interceptor® G2 from BASF, a dual active ingredient net for which a WHO-GMP Policy Recommendation was just finalised; and previously WHO-PQ Listed products such as Actellic^®300CS (co-developed by Syngenta), SumiShield™ 50WG (developed by Sumitomo Chemical) and Fludora® Fusion (developed by Bayer), contain different modes of action which can be rotated by country malaria control programs, expand the available toolbox, and are critical to preserve the long-term effectiveness of insecticide-based vector control interventions.

The pipeline for the future also shows promise; particularly for resistance management – with some brand-new insecticide modes of action potentially available for use on ITNs. But it is by no means certain. Solutions to address other threats (e.g. residual transmission and outdoor biting) are needed.

Technically, it is feasible to address some of these challenges – we know how to develop and deliver the needed innovation, but it will take continued engagement and/or investment from all relevant sectors. We must deliver on the current pipeline of existing tools and at the same time identify new solutions to address emerging challenges. It is critical that this is done together with country programs and implementing partners to ensure local relevance and impact amongst the countries and people that need them.

Where there are significant economic barriers to product innovation for industry, incentives are needed to encourage innovators to support the development of public health tools. The signing of the US EPA Vector Expedited Review Voucher (VERV), championed by IVCC following a policy proposal by Duke University, into law in late 2022 is an example of an initiative to stimulate investment in the development of innovative vector control solutions to help advance malaria elimination.

Market access activities, such as the catalytic market shaping work under the Unitaid and Global Fund supported New Nets Project (NNP), are a crucially important for introducing and implementing new innovation. The NNP laid the foundation for ensuring equitable and affordable access to new dual active ingredient nets such as Interceptor® G2 and Royal Guard® (developed by Disease Control Technologies).  As we move toward the introduction of novel interventions to address challenges in the future, that there will be benefits to, indeed a need for, similar approaches.

On this World Malaria Day, IVCC highlights the challenges on the road to malaria elimination, what role vector control plays in addressing them, and echoes this year’s World Malaria Day theme of ‘Innovate, Invest and Implement’ as the crucial components necessary to end malaria.

On 28th March, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) officially opened the Belna Natnat Haus, a new entomological facility in Madang province on the north coast of the country.

Named after its location in Belna and the tok pisin word ‘natnat’ for mosquito, the construction of the laboratory was a key part of a partnership between IVCC, PNGIMR, National Department of Health (NDoH), Madang Provincial Health Authority, Burnet Institute, James Cook University (JCU) and Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM).

The NATNAT programme (Newly Adapted Tools Network Against vector-borne disease Transmission) has been funded by IVCC since 2019 through funds from Australia’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

NATNAT is led by PNGIMR, Burnet Institute and James Cook University to build the capacity in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for the rapid evaluation and adoption of new vector control tools and comprises capacity building both of facilities and skills, a range of laboratory, semi-field and field evaluations of new tools and liaison with stakeholders on the scale up of those tools shown to be effective.

The newly developed site consists of a laboratory, insectary, and a semi-field tunnel system with an experimental hut system to be completed later in 2023.

The laboratory has been operational since 2022, with staff and fixtures moving over from the old PNGIMR site in Yagaum, but the official opening was held this week and welcomed delegates from PNG NDoH, DFAT, RAM, IVCC, the local community and a range of other national stakeholders.

The Belna Natnat Haus will be an important part of the fight against vector-borne disease in a country where malaria rates are increasing and where the most commonly deployed tool (LLINs) are not sufficient on their own to combat local vector species with early, outdoor biting behaviours.

It is hoped the facility will also have a regional impact beyond PNG and plans are already underway on future development work to maximise the capability and impact of the site.

Dr Moses Laman, deputy director of the institute and project Principal Investigator said, “This facility provides a great opportunity for PNG and the Pacific region to be able to generate data that will enable NMCPs to make informed decisions, build capacity and create a conducive research environment now and into the future.”

Team in front of experimental tunnel system. Paul Daly (Burnet Institute), Leanne Robinson (Burnet Institute), Moses Laman (PNGIMR), Stephan Karl (PNGIMR/James Cook University), Rachel Farquahr (Burnet Institute).

Credit: Fred Yeomans (IVCC)

Featured image: Moses Laman, PNGIMR

Credit: Evelien Rosens (Burnet Institute)

IVCC is delighted to announce that WHO-GMP has issued a policy recommendation for pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets to be deployed for malaria prevention instead of pyrethroid-only nets in areas with pyrethroid resistance. Pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets, such as the Interceptor® G2 has previously been assessed by the WHO Prequalification vector control products team for efficacy, safety and quality and were added to the list of Pre-Qualified vector control products in January 2018.

Epidemiological trials carried out over a 24-month period, in Tanzania (funded by the Wellcome Trust) and Benin (funded by Unitaid and the Global Fund as part of the New Nets Project) demonstrated that Interceptor^® G2 nets reduced malaria incidence by 44%^[1] to 46% ^[2] when compared with standard, pyrethroid-only nets. Results from these trials were used by WHO to recognise the public health value of this new product against malaria.

The research to support these findings was conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), National Institute for Medical Research, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, and the University of Ottawa and the Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC).

The collaboration between BASF and IVCC has delivered a next generation active ingredient treated net formulation that fights insecticide resistant mosquitoes. Interceptor® G2, combines a new to public health active ingredient, a pyrrole (chlorfenapyr), with a pyrethroid (alphacypermethrin), representing a novel mode of action in vector control and a first in 30 years.

“IVCC has a long-standing relationship with BASF; particularly when it comes to development of Interceptor® G2.  We are pleased to have played a core role, alongside our partners, in early product development, field testing, and global access strategy for this important new malaria prevention tool. This milestone is also testament to the importance of product-development and other partnerships to deliver high-impact, cost-effective prevention tools that are adapted to the needs of endemic countries,” says Justin McBeath, IVCC CEO.

The New Nets Project (NNP), an IVCC-led consortium of partners, funded by Unitaid and The Global Fund, piloted the use of Interceptor^® G2 nets in areas of moderate to high transmission throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The nets were first deployed in Burkina Faso in 2019, followed by an additional twenty countries from 2020 to 2023.

Over the course of four years, the project added to the necessary evidence base to support a WHO policy recommendation and assessed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the new nets under programmatic conditions to help inform country decision making. Evidence generated during pilot deployment has mirrored the trial results, demonstrating the superior effectiveness of the Interceptor ^® G2 compared to standard nets.

“We are pleased with the recommendation by the WHO for pyrethroid-chlofenapyr nets. Interceptor® G2 nets are making a significant contribution to prevent and fight against malaria. The partnership and commitment of all New Nets Project partners are key to bring innovations to regions where they demonstrate a public health value. This motivates us once again to continue developing new tools and products to reduce the burden of malaria to communities fighting insecticide resistance”, says Achim Reddig, Director of BASF Global Public Health.

The catalytic market shaping work under NNP to increase supply and demand have laid the foundation for ensuring equitable and affordable access to novel vector control products.  This was enhanced by the joint work of UK-based social finance company MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who supported access to Interceptor® G2 nets in 20+ countries by providing a volume guarantee that enabled BASF to reduce the price procurers pay for the nets.

“Unitaid and the Global Fund played a critical role in supporting the catalytic introduction of these new bed nets, working with partners to bring down costs, increase demand, and prove the efficacy and effectiveness of this powerful new malaria-fighting tool. We are delighted to see our massive partnership effort delivering such a vital addition to the vector control toolbox, helping to combat insecticide resistance and ensure effective protection from malaria for millions of people every year.” – Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.

“This shows how we can accelerate impact by embracing innovation,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “The issuance of policy guidance by WHO is critical to influencing broad uptake of the new nets and to combat growing insecticide resistance across Africa, where nearly all malaria infections and related deaths occur.”

The combined evidence built by the NNP, along with the WHO recommendation, provides countries with a state-of-the-art tool as they make decisions about how best to spend their malaria control budgets.

During the New Nets Project, Disease Control Technologies’ (DCT) RoyalGuard® pyriproxyfen-pyrethroid nets were also tested. Based on the evidence available, WHO-GMP has issued a conditional recommendation for the use of this class of net compared to standard, pyrethroid-only nets. Lower net use in the RoyalGuard® groups in epidemiological trials could have contribute to the reduced impact of these nets. More research is needed to fully understand the results.

The epidemiological studies will report additional data once the 36-month period is reached and combined with New Net Pilot evidence pilots across 5 countries, will continue to contribute to the understanding of Interceptor® G2 and RoyalGuard® product performance over time and across various endemicities and resistance profiles.

—-ends—

^[1]Mosha JF, Kulkarni MA. et al. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness against malaria of three types of dual active-ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) compared with pyrethroidonly LLINs in Tanzania: a four-arm, cluster-randomised trial, 2022; 399, 10331: 1227-1241.

^[2]Accrombessi M, Cook J. et al. Efficacy of pyriproxyfen-pyrethroid long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid LLINs compared with pyrethroid-only LLINs for malaria control in Benin: a cluster-randomised, superiority trial, 2023 (Online first).

Read the New Nets Project partner releases:

Global Fund and Unitaid Welcome WHO Recommendation for Insecticide-treated Nets With Dual Active Ingredients (Global Fund and Unitaid press release)

WHO recommends new malaria nets based on research by LSHTM and partners (LSHTM press release)

MedAccess welcomes WHO recommendation for chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid mosquito nets (MedAccess news item)

For further information contact:

Laura Roberts, Communications Manager

laura.roberts@ivcc.com

(+44) 07849 700582

Product and Project information

Interceptor® G2

Interceptor® G2 is a second-generation ITN developed by BASF with a combination of chlorfenapyr and alpha-cypermethrin to control insecticide resistant mosquitoes. This novel mode of action in vector control exploits mosquito enzymatic systems against themselves and shows no cross-resistance to other insecticide classes. Unlike pyrethroids, the chlorfenapyr target site of activity is not the insect nervous system. Instead, chlorfenapyr acts, after being metabolized by P450 enzymes at the cellular level, by disrupting respiratory pathways and proton gradients through the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria. The Interceptor® G2 net has a WHO prequalification listing.

Royal Guard®

Royal Guard® is an ITN developed by Disease Control Technologies to provide vector control through both the personal protection of traditional mosquito knockdown and mortality, as well as a reduction in fecundity of any mosquitoes that manage to survive exposure to the products pyrethroid active ingredient. The intended benefit of the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen, is to reduce the fecundity of adult female mosquitoes and, therefore, yield an overall reduction in the vector population by inhibiting egg laying, larval-pupal transformation and the emergence of functioning young adult mosquitos. The Royal Guard® net has a WHO prequalification listing.

The New Nets Project (NNP)

The Global Fund and Unitaid are each investing US$33 million between 2018 to 2022 to introduce new insecticide-treated nets to fight malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The New Nets Project is working to build the evidence base around, and prime the market for, the next generation of nets, which are treated with two different types of insecticide to help improve control of mosquitoes.

The project will generate evidence on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the new dual insecticide nets to inform a WHO policy decision on dual-AI nets and guide decision-making around product procurement at the country level. It is expected that the New Nets Project – with its unique design of parallel collection of epidemiological data and cost-effectiveness studies – will significantly reduce the timeline for entry of the new nets into the market.

The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are key operational and financial partners. A coalition led by IVCC is implementing the project which includes The Alliance for Malaria Prevention, Imperial College London, The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, PATH, PSI and Tulane University.

IVCC

IVCC is the only Product Development Partnership (PDP) focused on solutions for vector control. IVCC was established in 2005, through an initial grant to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a registered charity in the UK, IVCC receives grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Aid, USAID, The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to partner with different stakeholders across industry, scientific institutions and endemic countries to facilitate the development and availability of novel and improved public health insecticides and formulations which can combat the rapidly growing problem of insecticide resistance. In addition, IVCC has received funding from Unitaid and the Global Fund to implement catalytic market access projects, such as NgenIRS and the New Nets Project which support the rapid and scaled deployment of vector control tools. IVCC has three core values of partnership, innovation and respect, and strives to live these values in our dealings with all partners.

Image credit: PSI, Mali.