artesunate + pyronaridine

**Artesunate + pyronaridine** is a fixed-dose oral artemisinin-based combination therapy for acute uncomplicated malaria caused by *Plasmodium falciparum* and *Plasmodium vivax*. Artesunate is a rapidly acting artemisinin derivative that is activated by heme-associated iron in malaria parasites, generating reactive intermediates that damage essential parasite biomolecules. Pyronaridine is a longer-acting quinoline-related antimalarial that binds hematin and disrupts hemozoin formation in the parasite digestive vacuole, preventing detoxification of toxic free heme. The combination is marketed as Pyramax and Artecom in certain markets, is administered once daily for 3 days, and is available as tablets and pediatric granules for oral suspension. It was proposed by Shin Poong and co-developed with Medicines for Malaria Venture.

Brand names

Artecom

Other names

artesunate-pyronaridinepyronaridine + artesunatepyronaridine-artesunate