The rationale and plan for creating a World Antimalarial Resistance Network (WARN)

Area of Science:

• Global health
• Infectious diseases
• Parasitology

Background:

• Drug-resistant malaria historically hindered eradication campaigns.
• Emerging resistance to new antimalarial drugs poses a significant threat to current global investments.
• Effective antimalarial drug combinations are crucial for malaria control.

Discussion:

• Proposes the establishment of the World Antimalarial Resistance Network (WARN).
• WARN will comprise four linked open-access global databases (clinical, in vitro, molecular, pharmacological).
• WARN will be supported by networks of reference laboratories for surveillance.

Key Insights:

• WARN will serve as a public resource for antimalarial drug policies.
• It will aid in confirming and characterizing new antimalarial drug resistance.
• The network aims to contain the spread of antimalarial drug resistance.

Outlook:

• WARN is essential for guiding future antimalarial treatment and prevention strategies.
• It will enhance global surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance.
• The network will support the long-term goal of malaria eradication.