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MALARIA TREATMENT - ARTEMISININ
Since 1998 Malcolm Cutler, Managing Director of FSC Development Services Ltd has been involved in the
expansion of Artemisia annua production and its active ingredient artemisinin, which is the primary raw material
(starting material) used in Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.
FSC is presently working closely with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Geneva developing new and
improved extraction, purification, crystallisation and analytical methods for the production of artemisinin,
CNAP, University of York on new, high yielding, Artemisia varieties and with the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) on ensuring the supply of Artemisia/artemisinin
to meet ACT demands. FSC, together with WHO and MMV, recently organised and co-chaired
in international artemisinin conferences in Bangkok, Thailand (2007) and in Guilin, China (2008).
In the course of the above work Malcolm Cutler regularly visits production and processing regions
and companies in China, Vietnam, India and Africa as well as ACT manufacturers, research institutions
and donors in Europe. These visits, together with the close liaison with industry through the
organisation of the above international artemisinin conferences, has provided him with a detailed
understanding of the industry, the personnel and its problems.
FSC is part of Assured Artemisinin Supply System, www.a2s2.org.
SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE REGARDING MALARIA/ARTEMISIA
- DFID Artemisinin (1999) - “Artemisia, its use in the treatment of Malaria and the
potential for production and manufacture in East Africa”. FSC put together a team including
agronomists, processing experts (University of Surrey, UK) and representatives from the Malaria
Consortium/London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study involved a review of the
market need and channels, present suppliers both of Artemisia based and other treatments,
technical and viability issues. It also worked closely with African Artemisia in Tanzania (
now ABE/EABL) and included the organisation of trial crops with local plantations and small holders.
- Technoserve in Tanzania (2004) to help develop a USAID supported project to
increase the volume of Artemisia being grown in East Africa. The main role was in identifying
agronomic assistance, assessing need and demand, working with the processing expert and in
identifying present producers of Artemisia treatments in China, Vietnam, India and Africa.
Pharmaceutical companies in Europe were also approached over their interest in the long term
supply of Artemisinin and its derivatives, and extensive contacts made with WHO, MSF, MMV,
Malaria Consortium etc.
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EXPERIENCE REGARDING MALARIA/ARTEMISIA cont.
- WHO Malaria-Artemisia workshop in Arusha, Tanzania (June 2005)
Present experience of Artemisia work in East Africa. Chaired the
Artemisia processing group discussions.
- Work for WHO (and pharmaceutical companies) on establishing world production of Artemisia
and required extraction of artemisinin, artesunate/artemether to meet demands (2005/6).
- MMV Artemsisin Programme - initiated and managed project to develop “bench-marking” of present and new technologies
for artemisinin extraction and identify best extraction processes for individual producers.
This project received approval by WHO and funding through MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture)
from the Dutch Government. The initial study was undertaken in conjunction with Bath University,
UK and the findings published in ‘06.
- Advisor/consultant to the CNAP/York University programme (2006 – 2009) to produce high yielding
Artemisia varieties. Assisted York in their application to the Gates Foundation for funding support.
- Providing advice to MMV on their drug Access programme. Undertook a review of the pharmaceutical
companies in Uganda (2007/8) producing malaria treatments (specifically ACTs) and attended MMV’s ACT
access conference in Kampala, Uganda.
- 2006 – 2009: Consultant to MMV managing their artemisinin programme (supported by the
Dutch Government) which includes research into Artemisia post harvest (Mediplant); continued
support for the development of HFC, Ionic Liquid and Ethanol extraction technologies
(Bath University, Ineos Fluor, Bioniqs, Bremen/Graz Universities); Hexane safety/environmental revue
(Bath University); artemisinin purification/crystallisation research (Rothamsted Research,
Cranfield University, Bioniqs); development of common artemisinin test/assay procedures,
monographs and laboratory certification (Bath University, Shimadzu, Rothamsted; derivitisation
(Bremen/Graz Universities, Botanical Developments). Research has recently been initiated into
the development of a fast, hand held devise to measure the artemisinin content of leaves in
the filed (Cord 8)
- Chairman, speaker and joint organiser of the MMV/WHO conference “Artemisinin Production and
Marketing Needs: Meeting Global Demand” in Bangkok, Thailand – June 2007.
- Coordinator and Co-Chairman of the WHO/MMV Artemisinin Forum in Guilin, China “Ensuring Sustainable
Artemisinin Production” – Nov 2008.
- 2009 - expansion of the MMV Artemisinin programme to identify urgent solutions to technical
problems in the artemisinin extraction industry. This involves working closely with extractors
in Asia and Africa and with key ACT manufacturers.
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