Effectiveness of Artemisinin Combination Regimens in Falciparum Malaria

Summary

Antimalarial drug resistance is increasing nearly everywhere in the tropical world, confounding global attempts to "Roll Back Malaria." South East Asia has the most resistant malaria parasites in the world. This has limited the options for treatment in this region. Artemisinin-based combination therapy is now the recommended treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The success of this policy change in practice will depend on the efficacy of the components of the combination used, the population coverage achieved, high levels of adherence to treatment, low cost of the drugs, and preferably the drugs in a combination treatment should be formulated in a single tablet, to prevent one drug being taken without the partner drug. Until recently there were only two artemisinin-based fixed combinations available, artemether-lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine; and only the former has international registration. More fixed combinations are needed urgently.

Timeline

Start

2008-12

Primary completion

2009-10

Completion

2009-12

Publications

• Smithuis F, Kyaw MK, Phe O, Win T, Aung PP, Oo AP, Naing AL, Nyo MY, Myint NZ, Imwong M, Ashley E, Lee SJ, White NJ. Effectiveness of five artemisinin combination regimens with or without primaquine in uncomplicated falciparum malaria: an open-label randomised trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2010 Oct;10(10):673-81. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(10)70187-0. Epub 2010 Sep 9.

Drugs

Indications