Last reviewed · How we verify
Artemether-lumefantrine 5 days
Artemether-lumefantrine is a fixed-dose antimalarial combination that kills malaria parasites through multiple mechanisms: artemether rapidly reduces parasite biomass while lumefantrine eliminates remaining parasites and prevents recrudescence.
Artemether-lumefantrine is a fixed-dose antimalarial combination that kills malaria parasites through multiple mechanisms: artemether rapidly reduces parasite biomass while lumefantrine eliminates remaining parasites and prevents recrudescence. Used for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi.
At a glance
| Generic name | Artemether-lumefantrine 5 days |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Coartem®, Novartis, Switzerland |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford |
| Drug class | Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) |
| Target | Malaria parasite (Plasmodium) heme metabolism and mitochondrial function |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Artemether, a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, generates reactive oxygen species that damage parasite proteins and DNA, providing rapid parasite clearance. Lumefantrine, a biguanide-like compound, inhibits parasite heme polymerization and mitochondrial function, providing sustained antimalarial activity. The 5-day regimen optimizes the balance between rapid symptom relief and complete parasite elimination.
Approved indications
- Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi
Common side effects
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
Key clinical trials
- First-in-Human PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccination/CHMI (PHASE1)
- Pharmacokinetics, Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of a New Artemether-lumefantrine Dispersible Tablet in Infants and Neonates <5 kg Body Weight With Acute Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- To Evaluate Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability and PK of Intravenous Cipargamin in Participants With Severe Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria (PHASE2)
- Safety of Antimalarials in the FIRst trimEster (PHASE3)
- A Study to Find Out if a Combination of 3 Medicines for the Treatment of Malaria Works as Well and is as Safe and Tolerable as Combinations of 2 Medicines (PHASE3)
- A Trial to Compare the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Combinations of 3 Anti-malarial Drugs Against Combina-tions of 2 Anti-malarial Drugs. (PHASE3)
- In Vivo Efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine, Amodiaquine-Artesunate, Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine, and Pironaridine-Artesunate in Mozambique (PHASE4)
- ACT vs CQ With Tafenoquine for P. Vivax Mono-infection (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Artemether-lumefantrine 5 days CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Artemether-lumefantrine 5 days updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- University of Oxford portfolio CI