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artemether-lumefantrine (ALN)
Artemether and lumefantrine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by disrupting their hemoglobin metabolism and causing rapid parasite clearance.
Artemether and lumefantrine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by disrupting their hemoglobin metabolism and causing rapid parasite clearance. Used for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae.
At a glance
| Generic name | artemether-lumefantrine (ALN) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Jhpiego |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Plasmodium falciparum heme metabolism and parasite membranes |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Artemether, an artemisinin derivative, rapidly reduces parasite biomass by generating reactive oxygen species that damage parasite membranes and proteins. Lumefantrine, a biguanide-like compound, inhibits parasite heme polymerization and prevents detoxification of toxic heme, providing sustained parasite suppression. Together they achieve fast initial parasite clearance followed by complete elimination.
Approved indications
- Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum
- Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae
Common side effects
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
Key clinical trials
- Malaria Therapeutic Efficacy Study, Rwanda (PHASE4)
- Randomised Trial of 3 Artemisinin Combination Therapy for Malaria in Pregnancy (PHASE3)
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 (ALN) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- artemether-lumefantrine (ALN) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Jhpiego portfolio CI