The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have named two of MMV’s drug discovery partners among their award winners for 2017: Dr Elizabeth Winzeler, University of California, USA, is the recipient of the The Alice and C. C. Wang Award in Molecular Parasitology, while Dr John Burke, University of Victoria, Canada, is the recipient of the Walter A. Shaw Young Investigator Award in Lipid Research.

Dr Winzeler received the award for her contributions to antimalarial drug discovery, which in part led to the identification of KAF156 and Cipargamin as antimalarial compounds, both of which are now in clinical development with Novartis and MMV. 

Dr Burke’s award recognizes his important research on the structure, dynamics and function of lipid kinases – a particular kind of enzyme being researched as potential malaria drug targets. In collaboration with MMV, Dr Burke’s lab is using a lipid kinase assay to screen for compounds that could be active against malaria.

“We are proud to count such award-winning scientists among our partners,” said Dr Jeremy Burrows, Head of Drug Discovery at MMV. “It is through collaborations with scientists like Elizabeth and John that we’ll be able to bring forward the next-generation of antimalarials to support the ambitious global goals to eliminate the disease.”

The awards will be issued at the 2018 ASBMB Annual Meeting in San Diego.