Last reviewed 2026-04-22 · How we verify

PQ unsupervised

PQ unsupervised is a primaquine-based antimalarial that eliminates dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) of Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale malaria parasites.

PQ unsupervised is a primaquine-based antimalarial that eliminates dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) of Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale malaria parasites. Used for Radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria (hypnozoite elimination), Radical cure of Plasmodium ovale malaria (hypnozoite elimination).

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Primaquine is an 8-aminoquinoline that acts as a prodrug, requiring hepatic metabolism to generate active metabolites that damage the mitochondria of hypnozoites in hepatocytes. This mechanism prevents relapse malaria by eliminating the reservoir of dormant parasites that can reactivate weeks to months after the initial blood-stage infection is cleared. The 'unsupervised' formulation is designed for use without direct medical supervision, improving accessibility in resource-limited settings.

Approved indications

• Radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria (hypnozoite elimination)
• Radical cure of Plasmodium ovale malaria (hypnozoite elimination)

Common side effects

• Hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients
• Abdominal discomfort
• Nausea
• Methemoglobinemia

Key clinical trials

• Effectiveness of Novel Approaches to Radical Cure With Tafenoquine and Primaquine (PHASE3)
• A Randomized Controlled Trial on Malaria Primaquine Treatment in Timika, Indonesia (TRIPI) (PHASE4)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

• PQ unsupervised CI brief — competitive landscape report
• PQ unsupervised updates RSS · CI watch RSS
• Menzies School of Health Research portfolio CI