New drug capsule delivers medicine for weeks after swallowing

The capsule, developed by researchers in the United States, could be a powerful weapon in fighting malaria, HIV and other diseases where successful treatment depends on repeated doses of medicine.

In a study published in the Science Translational Medicine journal on Wednesday, the researchers used the new capsule to deliver an anti-parasitic drug called ivermectin, which they believe could help fight malaria.

The long-acting pill technology could also have a range of other applications, the scientists said - from use in treating Alzheimer's disease and mental illnesses to HIV and tuberculosis.

Although long-acting drug delivery systems already . . .