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Pyronaridine artesunate
Pyronaridine artesunate is a Antimalarial combination Small molecule drug developed by Medicines for Malaria Venture. It is currently FDA-approved for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. Also known as: Pyramax.
Pyronaridine artesunate is a fixed-dose combination antimalarial that kills malaria parasites through dual mechanisms: pyronaridine intercalates into parasite DNA while artesunate generates reactive oxygen species that damage parasite structures.
Pyronaridine artesunate is a small molecule used to treat malaria, specifically falciparum malaria. It is typically administered in combination with other medications, such as low-dose primaquine, for preventing the transmission of P. falciparum.
At a glance
| Generic name | Pyronaridine artesunate |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Pyramax |
| Sponsor | Medicines for Malaria Venture |
| Drug class | Antimalarial combination |
| Target | Plasmodium falciparum DNA; heme detoxification pathway |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Pyronaridine is an arylmethanol antimalarial that disrupts parasite DNA and protein synthesis, while artesunate is a semi-synthetic artemisinin derivative that generates free radicals to destroy the parasite. Together, they provide rapid parasite clearance and reduce gametocyte formation, lowering transmission risk. The combination addresses both drug-resistant and drug-sensitive Plasmodium species.
Approved indications
- Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum
- Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax
Common side effects
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Key clinical trials
- Tafenoquine and ACTs (TADORE- Plus) (PHASE4)
- A Clinical Study of Piperaquine, Pyronaridine, and Artesunate Administered in Combination in Healthy Adults (PHASE1)
- Health Systems Implementation and Molecular Surveillance of Multiple First-Line Treatments for Uncomplicated Malaria in Western Kenya
- Safety of Antimalarials in the FIRst trimEster (PHASE3)
- In Vivo Efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine, Amodiaquine-Artesunate, Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine, and Pironaridine-Artesunate in Mozambique (PHASE4)
- Four Different Experimental Drug Regimens to Standard of Care for the Treatment of Symptomatic Outpatients With COVID-19 (PHASE2)
- Comparing Safety and Protective Efficacy of Vaccine Candidate PfSPZ-CVac and MVA ME-TRAP/ ChAd63 ME-TRAP in Adults (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Malaria as a Risk Factor for COVID-19 in Western Kenya and Burkina Faso (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:
- Pyronaridine artesunate CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Pyronaridine artesunate updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Medicines for Malaria Venture portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Pyronaridine artesunate
What is Pyronaridine artesunate?
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Is Pyronaridine artesunate also known as anything else?
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Related
- Drug class: All Antimalarial combination drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting Plasmodium falciparum DNA; heme detoxification pathway
- Manufacturer: Medicines for Malaria Venture — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Infectious Disease
- Indication: Drugs for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum
- Indication: Drugs for Uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax
- Also known as: Pyramax
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing