artemether + lumefantrine vs artesunate + amodiaquine

This entry refers to a Phase 4 randomized, open-label, noninferiority clinical trial conducted by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia comparing two artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for the treatment of uncomplicated *Plasmodium falciparum* malaria. The trial evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of artemether-lumefantrine (AL, brand name Coartem) versus artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ, brand name Coarsucam) in the Chocó region of Colombia. Both treatment arms utilize oral small molecule combinations that pair a rapid-acting artemisinin derivative (artemether or artesunate) with a longer-acting partner drug (lumefantrine or amodiaquine). Artemisinins are thought to act by inhibiting the parasite's sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (PfATP6) and generating reactive free radicals that alkylate essential parasite proteins, while the partner drugs interfere with the detoxification of heme into non-toxic hemozoin. The study demonstrated that both ACT regimens are highly effective first-line treatments in the Colombian Pacific region.

Brand names

CoartemCoarsucam

Other names

AL vs AS-AQartemether-lumefantrine vs artesunate-amodiaquineartemether + lumefantrine vs artesunate + amodiaquine-Universidad Nacional de Colombia-malaria (Plasmodium falciparum)