Artesunate the New First-Line Drug for Severe Malaria in U.S.

By the Editors

The CDC says that intravenous artesunate will be the new first-line therapy for severe malaria in the U.S. beginning in April. Quinidine, the only FDA-approved treatment, is being discontinued.

Artesunate is recommended by the World Health Organization as a first-line malaria treatment. Although it is not FDA approved, the CDC has made it available through an investigational new drug protocol.

Clinicians who are treating patients with severe malaria should call the CDC's malaria hotline (770-488-7788) to obtain artesunate.