The U.S. Department of State, SC Johnson, and the Global Fund have officially launched a massive three-year initiative to roll out a “first-of-its-kind” American innovation called the Guardian. This spatial repellent is designed to curb the global malaria crisis, with plans to distribute 30 million units to protect upward of 60 million people in high-risk regions.
Developed and manufactured by Wisconsin-based SC Johnson, the Guardian is a low-cost, electricity-free tool that provides protection for up to one year. Unlike traditional repellents, its long-lasting efficacy allows it to shield families through multiple malaria seasons.
The initiative aligns with the “America First Global Health Strategy,” focusing on U.S.-developed medical technologies to boost domestic manufacturing and research jobs while addressing global health threats.
“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,” 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.”
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The rollout will target approximately 10 priority countries, focusing heavily on Sub-Saharan Africa—where malaria kills over 600,000 people annually, mostly children under five—and Southeast Asia. The partnership leverages the Global Fund’s procurement network to deliver the tools at scale, following a model similar to recent investments in treatments like lenacapavir.
Beyond the domestic production in the U.S., SC Johnson has also established high-speed manufacturing lines in Nairobi, Kenya, capable of churning out 20 million units a year to ensure sustainable regional supply.
Jeremy P. Lewin, a senior official at the Department of State, noted that the move reflects a shift toward tangible, American-led interventions.
“Secretary Rubio believes that with emerging technologies developed and manufactured right here in the United States, we have an exciting opportunity to make focused and targeted investments… that can help bend the curve of the world’s deadliest and most pervasive epidemics,” Lewin stated.
The Global Fund’s Executive Director, Peter Sands, emphasized the urgency of the mission, noting that without new tools, the global malaria burden is expected to rise. “Innovative partnerships like this one are essential to staying ahead of the disease and saving lives,” Sands said.
The agreement marks a $120 million investment by SC Johnson to develop and test the product on a not-for-profit basis, aiming to advance self-reliance in nations hit hardest by the mosquito-borne disease.
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