artemisinin + hydroxychloroquine sulfate

Artemisinin + hydroxychloroquine sulfate is a fixed-dose combination therapy developed for the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone derived from the sweet wormwood plant (*Artemisia annua*) that acts as a rapid-acting schizonticide. Its mechanism involves the cleavage of its internal endoperoxide bridge by parasite-derived heme, which generates reactive free radicals that alkylate and damage essential parasite proteins and membranes. Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is a 4-aminoquinoline derivative that interferes with the parasite's ability to detoxify ferriprotoporphyrin IX (heme) into non-toxic hemozoin within the acidic food vacuole. The accumulation of toxic heme leads to parasite death. This combination was explored by Guangdong New South Artemisinin Pharmaceutical to leverage the rapid parasite clearance of artemisinin alongside the longer half-life of hydroxychloroquine, targeting various *Plasmodium* species including *P. falciparum*, *P. vivax*, and *P. malariae*.

Other names

artemisinin/hydroxychloroquine sulfate combinationartemisinin-hydroxychloroquine