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Chloroquine + Primaquine
Chloroquine and primaquine work together as antimalarial agents by interfering with parasite DNA and disrupting the parasite's ability to metabolize hemoglobin.
Chloroquine and primaquine work together as antimalarial agents by interfering with parasite DNA and disrupting the parasite's ability to metabolize hemoglobin. Used for Malaria treatment and prevention, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria (including hypnozoite eradication).
At a glance
| Generic name | Chloroquine + Primaquine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Plasmodium parasite heme metabolism and mitochondrial function |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Chloroquine accumulates in the parasite's food vacuole and inhibits heme polymerization, leading to toxic heme accumulation and parasite death. Primaquine is a prodrug that generates reactive metabolites targeting the parasite's mitochondria and is particularly effective against hypnozoites (dormant liver stages), preventing relapse. Together they provide both acute and causal prophylaxis against malaria.
Approved indications
- Malaria treatment and prevention
- Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria (including hypnozoite eradication)
Common side effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Hemolytic anemia (in G6PD-deficient patients)
- Pruritus
- Dizziness
Key clinical trials
- Serological Testing and Treatment for Plasmodium Vivax Malaria: a Trial in Ethiopia and Madagascar (PHASE3)
- FocaL Mass Drug Administration for Vivax Malaria Elimination (PHASE3)
- An Interventional Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Tafenoquine (TQ) and Primaquine (PQ) When Either Are Taken Together With Chloroquine (CQ) for the Treatment of P. Vivax Malaria in Indian Participants Aged 2 Years and Older (PHASE3)
- Radical CUREfor MAlaria Among Highly Mobile and Hard-to-reach Populations in the Guyanese Shield (NA)
- Safety and Efficacy of Different Regimens of Primaquine on Vivax Malaria Treatment in G6PD Deficient Patients (PHASE2)
- Short Course Radical Cure of P. Vivax Malaria in Nepal (PHASE4)
- A Study to Assess Safety of Current Standard Malaria Treatment and an Assessment of G6PD Status in South-east Bangladesh (PHASE4)
- Operational Feasibility of Appropriate Plasmodium Vivax Radical Cure After G6PD Testing in Thailand
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:
- Chloroquine + Primaquine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Chloroquine + Primaquine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command portfolio CI