Innovative therapy against malaria 10 December 2024 Innovation and awards: Professor Antonella Pantaleo and the fight against malaria Sardinia, a land that once faced the scourge of malaria, now stands out for its scientific contribution to the malaria's fight on a global scale. Leading this effort is the scientific expertise of Antonella Pantaleo, professor of physiology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari. Her research, which has been focusing on new therapies against malaria since 2006, has led to a revolutionary innovation: a drug capable of blocking the infection cycle of the plasmodium, the parasite responsible for the disease. This innovative treatment works by preventing the parasite from infecting new red blood cells, by acting on a key enzyme in infected cells that the plasmodium is unable to ‘pierce’ to infect others, remaining trapped. Tests conducted in Uganda, Vietnam and Laos - countries where malaria is still endemic - have shown its effectiveness even in cases of resistance to traditional therapies. ‘We tested the drug on blood samples from patients and then directly in the villages, obtaining encouraging results,’ she explained. The FEMINAS prize: hightlighting the excellence The international importance of the drug earned Professor Pantaleo the FEMINAS prize from Coldiretti, award that celebrates Sardinian women capable of excelling and bringing the island's name to the world. The professor, with over 70 scientific publications and three patents, has placed Sardinia at the centre of international medical research. The FEMINAS award highlights not only the scientific value of her work, but also its human impact: a therapy that could save millions of lives worldwide. Sardinia, which once fought malaria with difficulty, is now a spokesperson for a global solution thanks to scientific dedication and innovation Made in Uniss.