HMN 2026: How Early clinical results deliver encouraging milestone for malaria drug candidate

Findings from two early clinical studies suggest a new dual-action antimalarial drug candidate is well tolerated in humans. The first-in-class clinical candidate, MK7602, is being developed by WEHI and global biopharmaceutical company MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., U.S.).

The Phase 1 trials, led by MSD, found that the compound can achieve blood concentration levels predicted to deliver its intended antimalarial effect—a key milestone that supports progression to later-stage clinical evaluation. The results are published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

MK-7602 emerged from a medicinal chemistry program by MSD and WEHI that was built on initial hits identified by the National Drug Discovery Center (NDDC) at WEHI using its advanced screening technologies.

Dual-strategy compound

The emergence of drug-resistant parasites has complicated efforts to control and eliminate malaria, which remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death globally.

MK-7602 targets the most prevalent malaria parasites in humans, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, and blocks two essential parasite enzymes, providing a unique dual-action strategy with the potential to reduce the risk of resistance.

The drug candidate is the result of a near-decade research collaboration between WEHI and MSD, led by Professor Alan Cowman AC, Dr. David Olsen and their research teams.

Critical drug discovery collaboration

The compound was originally identified and optimized using the advanced screening technologies of the National Drug Discovery Center (NDDC), Australia’s premier small molecule screening facility based at WEHI.

Prof Cowman, a WEHI Laboratory Head, said, “The NDDC screen was the breakthrough moment that transformed our approach and accelerated our research effort. As we unraveled the mechanisms, WEHI and MSD were able to design and engineer compounds to be more precise, more powerful and more effective—ultimately resulting in this new drug candidate.

“MK7602 is a powerful example of what becomes possible when we invest in this national capability.”

Established in 2020, the NDDC provides researchers with industrial scale screening capabilities to accelerate and scale screening capabilities to accelerate early-stage drug discovery. This national investment in cutting edge infrastructure has enabled research teams across Australia—including the WEHI–MSD collaboration—to turn innovative science into promising therapeutic candidates.

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