MALARIA kills almost three million people each year because western pharmaceutical companies have refused to develop anti-malarial drugs for impoverished Third World countries. This week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) unveiled a groundbreaking new programme that will develop new anti-malarial drugs every five years for poorer countries. Dr Steven Toovey, producer of the email-based Medinfo, said on Thursday that the Medicines for Malaria Venture would cost US$15 million dollars per year until 2001 and then increase to US$30 million. The programme is a co-operative venture between WHO, private and public donors, and the pharmaceutical industry. The major pharmaceutical companies, through the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, have agreed to contribute scientific expertise and help provide research infrastructure.