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primaquine (PQ) plus SP+AS
Primaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and artesunate works by killing malaria parasites at multiple lifecycle stages, including the dormant liver forms that cause relapse.
Primaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and artesunate works by killing malaria parasites at multiple lifecycle stages, including the dormant liver forms that cause relapse. Used for Plasmodium vivax malaria with relapse prevention, Malaria transmission reduction and elimination.
At a glance
| Generic name | primaquine (PQ) plus SP+AS |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination therapy |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Primaquine is an 8-aminoquinoline that targets hypnozoites (dormant parasites in the liver) and gametocytes, preventing relapse and transmission. When combined with SP+AS (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus artesunate), a synergistic antimalarial regimen is created: artesunate rapidly clears blood-stage parasites, while SP provides sustained schizontocidal activity, and primaquine eliminates the reservoir of latent parasites and sexual stages.
Approved indications
- Plasmodium vivax malaria with relapse prevention
- Malaria transmission reduction and elimination
Common side effects
- Hemolysis (in G6PD-deficient patients)
- Gastrointestinal disturbance
- Headache
- Methemoglobinemia
Key clinical trials
- Phase 2 Efficacy Study of Primaquine and Methylene Blue (PHASE2)
- Trial of Artesunate Combination Therapy in Pakistan (PHASE2)
- Randomized Trial of Two Antimalarial Treatments for Clearing Low Density P.Falciparum Parasitaemia in Sudan (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 |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- primaquine (PQ) plus SP+AS CI brief — competitive landscape report
- primaquine (PQ) plus SP+AS updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine portfolio CI