The findings from the EDCTP-funded MAMAH trial, which was conducted between 2019 and 2023 in 5 sites in semi-rural areas in Gabon and Mozambique, showed that dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) as malaria intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) administered concomitantly with prophylactic co-trimoxazole in pregnant women living with HIV is safe and reduces the risk of clinical malaria and overall Plasmodium falciparum infection.

The article which was published in January 2024 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, highlights the potential of DHA-PPQ as a safe and effective strategy for malaria prevention in pregnant women living with HIV. An announcement of the article is available on the EDCTP website.

The 11th EDCTP Forum was held in Paris, France from 7th to 10th November 2023 at the Palais des Congrès de Paris. It marked the 20th anniversary of the EDCTP and presented the new programme EDCTP3. The EDCTP Forum is a biennial event that provides an international platform for the presentation and discussion of cutting-edge research addressing the burden of poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and the capacity development and networking activities that support this goal. At the forum, research progress and achievements of the first 20 years of EDCTP were discussed as well as scientific challenges to be addressed in the next decade.

The MAMAH consortium members attended with the following contributions:

• Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in HIV-infected pregnant women: a multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (MAMAH project) (oral presentation by Raquel Gonzalez)

• A paradigm shift towards local and gender balanced leadership, promoting equitable partnerships and next generation African leaders (Symposium with oral presentation by Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma)

More information about the 11th EDCTP Forum programme can be found here.