(April 25, 2025, Shanghai, China) April 25 is World Malaria Day. The World Health Organization(WHO)theme for the 2025 World Malaria Day is Malaria Ends With Us:Reinvest,Reimagine,Reignite,aiming to re-energize efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

The World Health Organization's2024 World Malaria Report states that in 2023,there were an estimated 263 million new malaria cases in 83 countries,with a global toll of 597,000 malaria-related deaths. Despite significant achievements in global malaria control,the disease remains one of the world's major public health challenges,particularly in the WHO African Region,where it claims an estimated 1 life every minute.

Extending Support to Strengthen Malaria Prevention and Control in Africa

On World Malaria Day 2025,Fosun Pharma announced to donate 900,000 treatments of WHO prequalified antimalarials for malaria prevention and treatment,which were manufactured by Guilin Pharma,to some African countries including Angola,Tanzania,and Kenya,contributing to the fight against malaria.

The Artemisinin-based antimalarial medicines,a testament to China's scientific research prowess,have been extensively used across Africa and playing a pivotal role in global malaria control and serving as a hallmark of China's innovator drugs on the international stage. As a global leader in antimalarial drug R&D and manufacturing,Fosun Pharma has independently developed a comprehensive pipeline of antimalarial for malaria prevention,treatment of uncomplicated malaria,and severe malaria management. To date,36 antimalarial products from Fosun Pharma,including active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products,have been prequalified by WHO,significantly advancing malaria prevention and control efforts in Africa and other regions.

By the end of 2024,Fosun Pharma had provided over 400 million vials of artesunate for injection (equated to 60mg) to the global market. To date, globally over 80 million patients with severe malaria have been treated with Fosun’s injectable artesunate.The"Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Program,"anchored by the SPAQ-CO series as its core drugs,has benefited over 300 million African children,significantly reducing malaria incidence during malaria seasons in the region.

Continuous Innovation to Enhance Drug Accessibility

In June 2023,Argesun,the second-generation artesunate for injection independently developed by Fosun Pharma,passed the WHO prequalification. It has become the first artesunate for injection with a one-step formulation that has passed the WHO prequalification,further increasing access to high-quality,innovative antimalarial drugs and bringing renewed hope for saving more lives. To date,Argesun has been approved for registration in 25 countries.

Compared with Artesun(the first-generation artesunate for injection),Argesun(the second-generation)has optimized formulation process by combining the two steps of dissolving and preparing artesunate into one,significantly reducing the preparation time from three minutes to just one minute. This greatly enhances the clinical convenience,making it particularly suitable for remote regions in Africa with relatively underdeveloped medical conditions.

Since its launch,Fosun Pharma has actively advanced the promotion and application of Argesun across Africa."Argesun has gained widespread recognition among local healthcare professionals in Ghana for its benefits,including simplicity of preparation,rapid dissolution,and safe usage."David TANOE,General Manager of Tridem Pharma Ghana,a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma,stated,"In Ghana,we have been continuously conducting medical education and training for doctors,hospital pharmacists,and nurses,with a focus on highlighting the advantages and features of Argesun. We have successfully transitioned from Artesun to Argesun,and clinicians unanimously acknowledge its remarkable efficacy in reducing the recovery time for patients suffering from severe malaria.Moreover,the introduction of the new strength of 180 mg has also been highly praised."

Deep-rooted in Africa to support local medical and healthcare improvements

In addition to providing antimalarial drugs,Fosun Pharma enhances local medical technology and public health services through various initiatives,including advancing malaria prevention and control programs,establishing localized pharmaceuticals manufacturing in Africa,and offering free medical assistance. These efforts contribute to equitable healthcare access and a shared sustainable future in the African region.

To establish a strategic framework for localized pharmaceuticals manufacturing and supply in Africa,improving the accessibility and affordability of medical and healthcare products in the region,Fosun Pharma initiated the Cote d'Ivoire park project in 2022.Zhang Yutao,Director of the Guilin Pharma (a subsidiary of Fosun Pharma) Oral Preparation Manufacturing Center and Head of the Cote d'Ivoire Park Project said,"Upon receiving the Cote d'Ivoire park project assignment,I felt both the weight of responsibility and a profound sense of mission.This is a major initiative for us in advancing pharmaceuticals manufacturing and deepening cooperation in West Africa. My team and I have been actively collaborating with various parties on the ground to achieve key project milestones and facilitate smooth progress."The project will be executed in three phases. Once the park is completed,the target production capacity will expand to 5 billion tablets per year. It is anticipated to create nearly 1,000 local jobs,significantly contributing to the development of Côte d'Ivoire's pharmaceutical industry.

Fosun Pharma has consistently prioritized the enhancement of the capabilities of local healthcare professionals in developing countries and has conducted CME(Continuous Medical Education)training programs for medical personnel in several African nations.In 2024,approximately 2,500 CME training sessions were conducted,with an estimated total participation of over 40,000 attendees.

From ensuring drug supply to advancing localized manufacturing,from providing drug donations to fostering talent development,Fosun Pharma continues to broaden and deepen its anti-malaria efforts,embodying and implementing its corporate ESG philosophy throughpractical actions. Looking ahead,Fosun Pharma will intensify its efforts in research and development and innovation,refine its product and service portfolio,enhance collaborations with various parties,and work together to create a malaria-free world,contributing significantly to eliminating malaria in Africa and globally.