Artemisinin-Based Antimalarial Drugs_ A Comprehensive List

Artemisinin-Based Antimalarial Drugs: A Comprehensive List

Artemisinin and its derivatives form a crucial class of antimalarial drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of malaria worldwide. These drugs are typically used in combination therapies to enhance efficacy and reduce the risk of drug resistance. Here's a comprehensive list of artemisinin-based drugs and their common formulations:

Artemisinin: The parent compound, extracted from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua).

Artesunate: A water-soluble derivative of artemisinin, available in oral, rectal, and intravenous formulations. It's often used for severe malaria cases.

Artemether: An oil-soluble derivative, commonly used in oral and intramuscular formulations.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA): A metabolite of artemisinin with high antimalarial activity, used in oral formulations.

Arteether: Another oil-soluble derivative, less commonly used than artemether.

These artemisinin derivatives are typically combined with partner drugs in artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Common ACT formulations include:

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Artemether-Lumefantrine: Marketed under brand names like Coartem and Riamet.

Artesunate-Amodiaquine: Available under brand names such as ASAQ and Coarsucam.

Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine: Sold under names like Eurartesim and Duo-Cotecxin.

Artesunate-Mefloquine: Known by brand names like ASMQ and Artequin.

Artesunate-Pyronaridine: Marketed as Pyramax.

Artesunate-Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine: Used in some regions where other ACTs are not effective.

In addition to these primary formulations, there are several other artemisinin-based drugs and combinations in development or used in specific regions:

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Artemisone: A synthetic derivative of artemisinin with potentially improved properties.

OZ277 (Arterolane): A fully synthetic peroxide antimalarial, sometimes combined with piperaquine.

OZ439 (Artefenomel): Another synthetic ozonide with a longer half-life than traditional artemisinin derivatives.

Artesunate-Ferroquine: A combination therapy in development, with ferroquine as a new partner drug.

It's important to note that the availability and use of these drugs may vary by region, depending on local malaria parasite resistance patterns and national treatment guidelines. The World Health Organization regularly updates its recommendations for malaria treatment based on the latest evidence and resistance surveillance data.

Researchers continue to explore new artemisinin derivatives and combinations to combat emerging drug resistance and improve treatment efficacy. The ongoing development of new formulations and delivery methods aims to enhance the effectiveness of artemisinin-based therapies and contribute to global malaria control and elimination efforts.