artemether + lumefantrine + tafenoquine

This investigational drug combination consists of the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and a high dose (450 mg) of the 8-aminoquinoline tafenoquine. It is being evaluated by the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) in collaboration with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) for the radical cure of *Plasmodium vivax* malaria. Artemether and lumefantrine function as blood-stage antimalarials to clear acute infection, while tafenoquine targets the dormant liver-stage hypnozoites to prevent relapse. The combination is specifically being studied in the ACTQ Phase 4 clinical trial to determine if a higher 450 mg dose of tafenoquine can overcome potential drug-drug interactions where ACTs might antagonize tafenoquine's efficacy, particularly in Southeast Asian populations where the standard 300 mg dose has shown sub-optimal results.

Brand names

Kodatef

Other names

AL + TQAL + tafenoquine 450 mgArtemether-Lumefantrine plus Tafenoquine