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arthemether + lumefantrine
Artemether and lumefantrine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by disrupting their hemoglobin metabolism and interfering with their DNA replication.
Artemether and lumefantrine work synergistically to kill malaria parasites by disrupting their hemoglobin metabolism and interfering with their DNA replication. Used for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae.
At a glance
| Generic name | arthemether + lumefantrine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Sanofi |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Plasmodium falciparum heme detoxification pathway; artemisinin-derived endoperoxide bridge |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Artemether, a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative, rapidly kills malaria parasites by generating reactive oxygen species that damage parasite proteins and DNA. Lumefantrine, an arylaminoalcohol, inhibits the parasite's ability to detoxify heme released during hemoglobin digestion, leading to parasite death. Together, they provide rapid parasite clearance and sustained suppression of parasitemia.
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
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- QT prolongation
Key clinical trials
- Pyronaridine Artesunate (3:1) Versus Coartem® in P Falciparum Malaria Patients (PHASE3)
- P. Knowlesi Trial of Artemether-lumefantrine vs Chloroquine (PHASE3)
- Intermittent Preventive Treatment Versus Scheduled Screening and Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy (PHASE4)
- Cohort Study in Senegal Comparing Artesunate + Amiodaquine in the Treatment of Repeated Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Attacks (PHASE4)
- ACT MALI: Treatment of Malaria Based on Combination Therapies (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:
- arthemether + lumefantrine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- arthemether + lumefantrine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Sanofi portfolio CI