Researchers identify pine bark and sponge compounds as potential treatments for drug‑resistant malaria and babesiosis

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside are developing a new generation of drugs to treat malaria and babesiosis as parasite resistance to existing therapies rises. The work comes amid growing evidence that both *Plasmodium* species and *Babesia* parasites are evolving mechanisms that render standard antimalarials and antitoxoplasmic agents less effective, threatening global efforts to control these diseases.

The team is focusing on novel chemical scaffolds that target essential parasite proteins not yet exploited by current drugs. In preclinical studies, several lead compounds have shown potent activity against drug‑resistant strains of *P. falciparum* and *B. microti* while maintaining a favorable safety profile in cell‑based assays. The researchers are also collaborating with the National Institutes of Health to evaluate pharmacokinetics and efficacy in animal models, aiming to advance the most promising candidates into clinical trials within the next three years.

If successful, the new therapies could provide clinicians with more reliable treatment options for patients in regions where resistance undermines current regimens. The University of California, Riverside team plans to submit their findings to peer‑reviewed journals and seek funding to support the transition from laboratory research to human studies, marking a critical step toward mitigating the public health impact of these resilient parasites.