Tafenoquine (Krintafel) Approved for Prevention of Relapse of Vivax Malaria

A single dose is effective in clearing the dormant liver stage of Plasmodium vivax (radical cure).

The U.S. FDA approved tafenoquine for prevention of relapse of vivax malaria on July 20, 2018. Tafenoquine is an 8-aminoquinoline, a synthetic analog of primaquine, and has a long elimination half-life (average terminal half-life, 15 days). The drug is active against all stages of Plasmodium vivax, including the dormant liver hypnozoite. It has slow clearance of blood stage parasites, so it is taken in combination with a faster-acting blood schizonticide, chloroquine.

In three double-blind, randomized, multicountry clinical trials (>1000 total participants) tafenoquine was efficacious in preventing relapses of vivax malaria (NEJM JW Infect Dis Feb 2014 and Lancet 2014; 383:1049).

Dosage and administration: A single dose of 300 mg (two 150-mg …

Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Tafenoquine (Krintafel) Approved for Prevention of Relapse of Vivax Malaria

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