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artesunate and mefloquine
Artesunate and mefloquine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites through distinct mechanisms: artesunate generates reactive oxygen species that damage parasite proteins and organelles, while mefloquine disrupts parasite digestive vacuole function and mitochondrial activity.
Artesunate and mefloquine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites through distinct mechanisms: artesunate generates reactive oxygen species that damage parasite proteins and organelles, while mefloquine disrupts parasite digestive vacuole function and mitochondrial activity. Used for Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and other Plasmodium species.
At a glance
| Generic name | artesunate and mefloquine |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Artequin[TM] Paediatric stickpack |
| Sponsor | Mepha Ltd. |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Plasmodium falciparum heme iron (artesunate); parasite digestive vacuole and mitochondria (mefloquine) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Artesunate, a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, is activated by heme iron in parasites to form reactive oxygen species that cause oxidative damage to parasite proteins and DNA. Mefloquine is a quinoline antimalarial that concentrates in the parasite's digestive vacuole and interferes with heme detoxification and mitochondrial function. The combination provides complementary mechanisms that reduce the risk of resistance development.
Approved indications
- Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and other Plasmodium species
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Neuropsychiatric effects (mefloquine-related)
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
Key clinical trials
- 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)
- FocaL Mass Drug Administration for Vivax Malaria Elimination (PHASE3)
- A Trial to Compare the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Combinations of 3 Anti-malarial Drugs Against Combinations of 2 Anti-malarial Drugs (Asia) (PHASE3)
- Compare the Effectiveness Between Existing Treatment and New Treatment (NA)
- Targeting High Risk Populations With Enhanced Reactive Focal Mass Drug Administration in Thailand (NA)
- Randomised Trial of 3 Artemisinin Combination Therapy for Malaria in Pregnancy (PHASE3)
- Pyronaridine - Artesunate (3:1) Versus Mefloquine Plus Artesunate in Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Patients (PHASE3)
- Dose Escalation PfSPZ-CVac (PHASE1)
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:
- artesunate and mefloquine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- artesunate and mefloquine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Mepha Ltd. portfolio CI