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Artesunate and Pyronaridine
Artesunate and pyronaridine are antimalarial agents that work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting parasite metabolism.
Artesunate and pyronaridine are antimalarial agents that work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by generating reactive oxygen species and disrupting parasite metabolism. Used for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi.
At a glance
| Generic name | Artesunate and Pyronaridine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Thailand |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Malaria parasite (Plasmodium species) — multiple targets including heme polymerization and oxidative stress pathways |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Artesunate, a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, generates free radicals that damage parasite proteins and membranes. Pyronaridine is an arylmethanol antimalarial that inhibits parasite heme polymerization and disrupts mitochondrial function. Together, they provide rapid parasite clearance and reduce the risk of resistance development through complementary mechanisms of action.
Approved indications
- Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi
Common side effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Elevated liver enzymes
Key clinical trials
- Tafenoquine and ACTs (TADORE- Plus) (PHASE4)
- A Clinical Study of Piperaquine, Pyronaridine, and Artesunate Administered in Combination in Healthy Adults (PHASE1)
- Health Systems Implementation and Molecular Surveillance of Multiple First-Line Treatments for Uncomplicated Malaria in Western Kenya
- Safety of Antimalarials in the FIRst trimEster (PHASE3)
- In Vivo Efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine, Amodiaquine-Artesunate, Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine, and Pironaridine-Artesunate in Mozambique (PHASE4)
- Four Different Experimental Drug Regimens to Standard of Care for the Treatment of Symptomatic Outpatients With COVID-19 (PHASE2)
- Comparing Safety and Protective Efficacy of Vaccine Candidate PfSPZ-CVac and MVA ME-TRAP/ ChAd63 ME-TRAP in Adults (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Malaria as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 in Western Kenya and Burkina Faso (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 |
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