October 27, 2026
New global guidance identifies validated molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance, supporting evidence-based treatment decisions and advancing malaria elimination efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its Compendium of molecular markers for antimalarial drug resistance, incorporating a dedicated review of Plasmodium vivax that marks an important step forward in understanding and monitoring antimalarial drug resistance. Professor Ric Price, Professor Sarah Auburn and Dr Qin Cheng contributed to the P. vivax review, helping strengthen the evidence base for identifying molecular markers associated with resistance to frontline antimalarial medicines.
Drug resistance remains a major threat to global malaria control and elimination. While molecular markers can provide valuable insights into the emergence and spread of resistance, uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of several P. vivax markers has presented challenges for researchers, clinicians and public health authorities.
The WHO Compendium update addresses this challenge by clarifying which molecular markers have been validated and can be used to inform public health decisions, while identifying important research priorities for markers that require further investigation.
Professor Sarah Auburn emphasised the significance of the update: “Drug resistance is one of the greatest threats to malaria elimination. For many years there has been confusion about the role of several Plasmodium vivax markers in resistance to frontline drugs such as chloroquine. The addition of P. vivax to the WHO Compendium of molecular markers for antimalarial drug resistance brings greatly needed clarity on which markers are validated and can be used to inform public health decisions on treatment strategy. The update is also important for the scientific community as it identifies research priorities to generate the evidence needed for other markers.”
The inclusion of P. vivax in the WHO Compendium provides researchers and public health authorities with an important reference for interpreting molecular surveillance data, distinguishing validated markers from those requiring further evidence, and prioritising future research. By establishing a clearer framework for understanding molecular markers of antimalarial drug resistance, the update supports more informed decision-making and strengthens the foundations for future advances in P. vivax research.
The contributions of Professor Sarah Auburn (Menzies School of Health Research), Professor Ric Price (Menzies School of Health Research), Dr Qin Cheng (ADFMIDI-QIMRB), Charlotte Rasmussen (World Health Organisation), Didier Leroy (Medicines for Malaria Venture), Didier Menard (Institut Pasteur) and David Fidock (Columbia University) to the WHO review reflect the importance of collaborative scientific expertise in addressing the challenges of antimalarial drug resistance.
As countries continue working towards malaria elimination, robust evidence and reliable surveillance tools will be critical to protecting the effectiveness of existing treatments and informing future public health strategies.
Explore the WHO Compendium of molecular markers for antimalarial drug resistance:
https://www.who.int/tools/compendium-of-molecular-markers-for-antimalarial-drug-resistance