20 March 2023, Switzerland: The WHO has confirmed that PermaNet Dual, a pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr long-lasting insecticidal net has been prequalified – an important step to counter the threat of malaria in regions with insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. 

The listing comes days after the WHO updated guidelines were published, issuing a strong recommendation for the deployment of pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets that have been demonstrated to reduce malaria cases by nearly 50%.

“We are proud to announce that PermaNet Dual has successfully met WHO Prequalification requirements for quality, safety, and efficacy and is now included in the WHO list of prequalified vector control products,” says Melinda Hadi, Director of Market Development & Access. “The expansion of the PermaNet portfolio to include a dual active ingredient net reflects our commitment to increasing access to safe and effective prevention tools for malaria control and elimination.”

Malaria remains a life-threatening disease. With the threat of pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors, there is an urgent need to maintain innovation to ensure a core malaria prevention tool remains effective. Semi-field studies were conducted by researchers in Cote d’Ivoire and Benin. PermaNet Dual demonstrated consistent superior efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes. 

Caroline Desrousseaux, Director of Sales and Marketing at Vestergaard, says, “PermaNet Dual is ready for production now and can be manufactured at scale. This new product can contribute to significantly accelerating the deployment of dual active ingredient nets in sub-Saharan African countries. We are thrilled that Uganda will be the first country to receive these nets.”

The PermaNet® portfolio was launched in 2003 with the release of PermaNet 2.0, a pyrethroid-only LLIN specifically designed to protect against pyrethroid-susceptible mosquitoes. In 2009, we took another significant step forward by introducing PermaNet® 3.0, a pyrethroid-PBO LLIN developed to combat growing pyrethroid resistance. Now, PermaNet Dual’s new mode of action delivers better bioefficacy against highly resistant mosquito populations, bringing vital support in areas where resistance is highest.

Ends

For further information: info@vestergaard.com

PermaNet Dual (PQT/VC Ref Number: P-03228): https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/vector-control-product/permanet-dual

Small-scale field evaluation of PermaNet Dual (a long-lasting net coated with a mixture of chlorfenapyr and deltamethrin) against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes from Tiassalé, Côte d’Ivoire. Zahouli et al. 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04455-z

PermaNet Dual, a new deltamethrin-chlorfenapyr mixture net, shows improved efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae sensu lato in southern Benin. Syme et al. Preprint DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.02.526745

About Vestergaard

Vestergaard is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative, high-quality tools to improve global health outcomes in mainly low- and middle-income countries. Known for their PermaNet® long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria, the company has manufactured 973 million bed nets, protecting an estimated 1.75 billion lives in malaria-endemic countries. Their partnerships and ground-breaking tools have allowed Vestergaard to support global health efforts to eradicate malaria, sleeping sickness and Guinea worm.