A joint research agreement was signed in March 2001 between WHO through its Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and GlaxoSmithKline to develop a new effective oral treatment for uncomplicated malaria, primarily for use in Sub-Saharan Africa for public health programs. The aim was to develop chlorproguanil-dapsone (LAPDAP) as a safe alternative to chloroquine and SP for treatment of malaria caused by the Plasmodia falciparum malaria parasite in Africa. The treatment received approval from the UK Regulatory Agency in July 2003, and GlaxoSmithKline and WHO are collaborating on operational research on public health and access issues related to the use of Lapdap in resource-poor settings. Lapdap has now been approved in over 20 African countries and if adopted by national malaria control programs, it will be made at not-for-profit preferential prices.

In April 2004 GSK, WHO-TDR and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced the signing of a collaborative agreement, to develop a new-fixed dose artemisinin combination therapy drug (ACT), combining chlorproguanil, dapsone and artesunate (CDA) for the treatment of malaria. This new CDA development project is supported by an initial grant from the UK Department of International Development (DFID). The development team is chaired by Professor Peter Winstanley of the University of Liverpool, one of the academic partners involved in the development of the drug, along with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The agreement states that if the development of CDA is successful as a result of this initiative, it will be made available at preferential prices to the public sector in malaria endemic countries, so as to maximize its availability to those in need. If targets are met the drug should be ready for regulatory submission in 2006.