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Tafenoquine prophylaxis
Tafenoquine prophylaxis is a 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial Small molecule drug developed by Naval Medical Research Center. It is currently FDA-approved for Malaria prophylaxis in travelers to endemic regions, Treatment of acute malaria (P. vivax and P. ovale). Also known as: TQ.
Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline that kills malaria parasites by generating reactive oxygen species in the parasite mitochondria.
Tafenoquine is a small molecule used for the prophylaxis of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax. The exact mechanism of action of tafenoquine is currently unknown.
At a glance
| Generic name | Tafenoquine prophylaxis |
|---|---|
| Also known as | TQ |
| Sponsor | Naval Medical Research Center |
| Drug class | 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial |
| Target | Plasmodium mitochondrial electron transport chain |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Tafenoquine acts as a blood schizonticide and hypnozoiticide, meaning it eliminates both the erythrocytic (blood) stage and the dormant liver stage (hypnozoites) of Plasmodium parasites. As an 8-aminoquinoline, it generates reactive oxygen species that damage parasite mitochondrial function, leading to parasite death. This dual activity makes it effective for both treatment and prophylaxis of malaria, particularly P. vivax and P. ovale.
Approved indications
- Malaria prophylaxis in travelers to endemic regions
- Treatment of acute malaria (P. vivax and P. ovale)
Common side effects
- Hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
Key clinical trials
- Vivax Elimination With Tafenoquine (VET) Study (PHASE4)
- 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)
- Escalating Monthly Doses of Tafenoquine in Healthy Volunteers (PHASE4)
- Ph 2B/3 Tafenoquine (TFQ) Study in Prevention of Vivax Relapse (PHASE2)
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:
- Tafenoquine prophylaxis CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Tafenoquine prophylaxis updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Naval Medical Research Center portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Tafenoquine prophylaxis
What is Tafenoquine prophylaxis?
How does Tafenoquine prophylaxis work?
What is Tafenoquine prophylaxis used for?
Who makes Tafenoquine prophylaxis?
Is Tafenoquine prophylaxis also known as anything else?
What drug class is Tafenoquine prophylaxis in?
What development phase is Tafenoquine prophylaxis in?
What are the side effects of Tafenoquine prophylaxis?
What does Tafenoquine prophylaxis target?
Related
- Drug class: All 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting Plasmodium mitochondrial electron transport chain
- Manufacturer: Naval Medical Research Center — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Infectious Disease
- Indication: Drugs for Malaria prophylaxis in travelers to endemic regions
- Indication: Drugs for Treatment of acute malaria (P. vivax and P. ovale)
- Also known as: TQ
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing