Just read this on the Internet here in Germany:

The group of Prof. Rolf Hilgenfeld in Luebeck has identified and structurally characterized the enzyme Falcipain-2, which is responsible for the decomposition of haemoglobin and thus for the alimentation of the Malaria parasite Plasmodium Falciparum, by X-ray crystral structure analysis and is now capable of predicting possible inhibiting substances.

"Journal of Biological Chemistry" (Vol. 281, Pages 25425-25437, September 1st, 2006)

On information about the results, the German DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) has immediately decided to fund Hilgenfeld's research with 100.000 Euros during the next two years even before the work was fully published. I think that shows how serious the topic is taken here.

Regards,

Christoph