New data released by the US National Institutes of Health suggests a large number of anti-malaria drugs circulating in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia are either fake or of poor quality. The findings, released this week in the online edition of the Lancet, show these medications are hampering the global fight of the epidemic illness.
According to lead researcher Joel Breman of the NIH, as many as 42 percent of anti-malaria drugs are counterfeit or of bad quality. He added the sudden spike could undermine recent progress in controlling the disease.
"Poor quality antimalarial drugs are very likely to jeopardize the unprecedented progress and investments in control and elimination of malaria made in the past decade," Breman said in the report.
Researchers reviewed data from various studies that randomly tested anti-malaria drugs found in the field. Breman added authorities should act quickly against counterfeiters to prevent a flare up in the deadly disease.
"Concurrent interventions and a multifaceted approach are needed to define and eliminate criminal production, distribution, and poor manufacturing of antimalarial drugs. Empowering of national medicine regulatory authorities to protect the global drug supply is more important than ever."
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.