Medincell to receive a $3 million grant from the Gates Foundation to advance mdc-STM malaria program.
mdc-STM program is an investigational, three-month, subcutaneous injectable formulation of ivermectin, designed to eliminate malaria-transmitting mosquitoes when they bite treated individuals.
If proven safe, effective, and acceptable, mdc-STM could have a significant impact on transmission of malaria among vulnerable populations in high-transmission areas.
Malaria infected approximately 263 million people worldwide in 2023, with 94% of cases occurring in Africa and resulting in about 597,000 deaths, the vast majority among children under the age of five.1
Regulatory News:
Medincell (Paris:MEDCL):
Quiterie de Beauregard, Head of Global Health at Medincell, said: "On top of previous studies, our program is now backed by a recent large-scale human field study which has shown that oral ivermectin can significantly reduce malaria transmission by about 26% during mass drug administration campaigns by neutralizing disease-vector mosquitoes.2 However, the study also highlighted substantial logistical challenges with oral administration, limiting its overall effectiveness. Advanced modeling and field experience indicate that long-acting injectable formulations could unlock ivermectin's full potential, significantly increasing transmission reduction compared to oral administration and positioning it as a transformative tool in global malaria eradication efforts."
Christophe Douat, CEO of Medincell, said: "We are delighted that our long-acting injectable technology can help tackle major global health challenges. New scientific evidence and the funding support from the Gates Foundation represent decisive steps forward, enabling us to advance toward clinical development. This marks an important transition for the project as we work to make this innovation a reality in the fight to eradicate malaria."
Funding support from the foundation enables Medincell to advance its 3-month active subcutaneous formulation of ivermectin toward a first-in-human trial a critical step in evaluating its safety and pharmacokinetics, and progressing toward future large-scale field studies to assess its efficacy and potential impact on malaria transmission.
About mdc-STM program
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that can kill mosquitoes after they bite treated individuals or animals. While the injection does not directly protect the recipient from malaria, mass drug administration campaigns may reduce the mosquito population density, thereby lowering the risk of malaria transmission for the entire community, and particularly in children. This community-based intervention aims to disrupt the chain of malaria transmission. This new ivermectin formulation may also offer additional community-perceived benefits, both direct and indirect, against other parasitic diseases such as scabies or head lice, which impose a huge burden at the community level.2
The product is based on BEPO, Medincell's polymer-based injectable technology that enables the sustained release of ivermectin. A single subcutaneous injection has the potential to protect people living in malaria-endemic areas throughout the rainy season.
In 2022, Medincell signed a license agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), enabling MPP to help identify suitable partners for the development and distribution of mdc-STM in low- and middle-income countries.3
About Medincell
Medincell is a clinical- and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical licensing company developing long-acting injectable treatments across multiple therapeutic areas. Our innovative treatments are designed to ensure adherence to medical prescriptions, enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of medicines, and reduce their environmental impact.
These treatments combine active pharmaceutical ingredients with our proprietary BEPO technologies, which enables controlled drug delivery at therapeutic levels for several days, weeks, or months following a subcutaneous or local injection of a small, fully bioresorbable deposit.
Risperidone LAI was the first treatment based on BEPO technology to be approved by the FDA first for schizophrenia in April 2023, and later for Bipolar I Disorder in October 2025. It is marketed in the United States by Teva under the name UZEDY (BEPO technology is licensed to Teva under the name SteadyTeq). Medincell's risperidone LAI was also approved for schizophrenia in Canada and South Korea in 2025.
Our investigational pipeline includes numerous innovative therapeutic candidates in various stages of development, from formulation to Phase 3 clinical trials. We collaborate with leading pharmaceutical companies and foundations to advance global health through new treatment options.
Headquartered in Montpellier, France, Medincell employs over 140 people representing more than 25 nationalities.
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UZEDY and SteadyTeq are trademarks of Teva Pharmaceuticals.
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____________________ 1 WHO fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria 2 Chaccour et al., Ivermectin to Control Malaria A Cluster-Randomized Trial, The New England Journal of Medicine, July 2025 (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2411262) 3 Press release, September 13, 2022: https://www.medincell.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20220914_MedinCell-MPP_EN_vf-2.pdf |
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Contacts:
David Heuzé
Head of Corporate and Financial Communications, and ESG
david.heuze@Medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86
Grace Kim
Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Finance
grace.kim@medincell.com +1 (646) 991-4023
Nicolas Mérigeau Arthur Rouillé
Media Relations
Medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94
Louis-Victor Delouvrier Alban Dufumier
Investor Relations France
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