New Alliance Deploys Novel Shield Against Malaria for 60 Million

WASHINGTON, DC – May 13, 2026 – A landmark public-private partnership announced today aims to protect more than 60 million people from malaria through the deployment of an innovative, electricity-free prevention tool. Consumer goods giant SC Johnson, the U.S. Department of State, and The Global Fund have forged a three-year agreement to dramatically expand access to SC Johnson Guardian™, a spatial repellent designed to provide a year-long shield against disease-carrying mosquitoes.

The collaboration will target approximately 10 high-burden countries, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria continues to exact a devastating toll, causing over 600,000 deaths annually. The vast majority of these victims are children under the age of five. This new initiative represents a significant scaling-up of efforts, combining American corporate innovation, government strategic funding, and a proven global health delivery platform.

"More than a decade ago, we launched a not-for-profit effort to develop an ultra-low-cost spatial repellent aimed at helping fight malaria and other insect-borne diseases among the world's most vulnerable communities," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "We're grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Department of State and the Global Fund, which will help protect tens of millions of people from malaria."

A New Class of Defense in the Malaria Fight

At the heart of the initiative is the SC Johnson Guardian™, a product born from over a decade of research and more than $120 million in not-for-profit investment by the Wisconsin-based company. The device is a spatial repellent, a technology that works by passively releasing an active ingredient into the air to disrupt mosquito behavior, deterring them from entering a space and preventing bites. Unlike insecticide-treated bed nets, which are effective during sleeping hours, spatial repellents can offer protection during the day and early evening when people are active indoors, filling a critical gap in prevention.

The timing of this scale-up is pivotal. In a major development for global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a new recommendation in August 2025 supporting the use of spatial repellents for malaria control—the first new class of vector control intervention to be endorsed in decades. Following this, the WHO prequalified the Guardian product, confirming it meets global standards for safety, quality, and efficacy.

Field data underscores the tool's potential. A 12-month clinical trial in Tanzania demonstrated that Guardian reduced blood-feeding from pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes by nearly 83% and reduced mosquito landings by over 65%. This efficacy against resistant mosquito strains is crucial as traditional methods face growing challenges.

"Innovative partnerships like this one are essential to staying ahead of the disease and saving lives," said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. "By accelerating access to new tools alongside existing interventions, we can help countries strengthen malaria prevention and protect vulnerable communities."

Forging a Public-Private Blueprint for Global Health

This collaboration showcases a modern model for tackling global health crises. Each partner brings a distinct and vital capability to the table. SC Johnson provides the product and scientific expertise, developed entirely as a not-for-profit initiative. The U.S. Department of State is injecting strategic capital through its America First Global Health Strategy's innovation fund, designed to support American-led solutions to global challenges.

"This exciting partnership will deliver SC Johnson's spatial emanators to tens of millions of people in high-risk low-income locations, protecting them from the scourge of malaria, while also supporting thousands of research and real manufacturing jobs here in the United States," stated Jeremy P. Lewin, a senior official at the Department of State. He emphasized the strategy's focus on tangible interventions that can "bend the curve" of deadly epidemics.

Completing the triad, The Global Fund brings its unparalleled experience in large-scale procurement and in-country distribution. As the provider of 59% of all international financing for malaria control, its platform is essential for ensuring the Guardian tool reaches the communities that need it most, efficiently and equitably.

From Kenyan Factories to African Homes

The initiative is not just about distribution; it is also about building sustainable local capacity. A cornerstone of the deployment strategy is SC Johnson’s manufacturing plant in Nairobi, Kenya. After a significant investment of over $10 million, the facility now operates two high-speed production lines capable of producing 20 million Guardian units annually. The plant has created up to 150 local jobs and establishes a critical manufacturing hub directly within one of the most affected regions.

This local production is hailed as a "game changer" by regional health experts, as it allows for a more rapid and efficient supply chain to reach high-risk areas across East Africa. The partnership will deploy Guardian through established public health channels and community health worker networks. In countries like Mali and Niger, the tool will be integrated into existing programs that deliver critical medicines to children, demonstrating a commitment to integrating new tools into the existing health infrastructure.

The strategy is already gaining traction at the national level. Uganda, for instance, has formally integrated spatial repellents into its national malaria control strategy for 2026-2030, a landmark policy move that signals growing confidence in this new class of intervention. With deployment targeting some of the highest-burden countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and potential expansion to Southeast Asia, this multi-pronged approach offers a powerful new strategy in the global effort to eradicate malaria.