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PQ supervised
PQ supervised is a directly observed therapy (DOT) program for primaquine administration in malaria treatment.
PQ supervised is a directly observed therapy (DOT) program for primaquine administration in malaria treatment. Used for Plasmodium vivax malaria (radical cure and relapse prevention), Plasmodium ovale malaria (radical cure and relapse prevention).
At a glance
| Generic name | PQ supervised |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Menzies School of Health Research |
| Drug class | 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial |
| Target | Plasmodium hypnozoites (mechanism not fully elucidated at molecular level) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease / Parasitology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
PQ supervised refers to a supervised administration protocol for primaquine, an 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drug used to eliminate hypnozoites (dormant liver stages) of Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale. The 'supervised' component ensures adherence and tolerability monitoring, particularly important given primaquine's potential for hemolytic toxicity in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals.
Approved indications
- Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax (radical cure to prevent relapse)
- Malaria caused by Plasmodium ovale (radical cure to prevent relapse)
Common side effects
- Hemolytic anemia (in G6PD-deficient patients)
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea
- Methemoglobinemia
Key clinical trials
- P.Vivax Treatment Trial (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- A Randomized Controlled Trial on Malaria Primaquine Treatment in Timika, Indonesia (TRIPI) (PHASE4)
Primary sources
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| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |