Artemether/lumefantrine
Combination of | |
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Antimalarial | |
Clinical data | |
Trade names | Coartem, Riamet, Falcynate-LF |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a609024 |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
ChemSpider | |
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Artemether/lumefantrine, sold under the trade name Coartem among others, is a combination of the two medications artemether and lumefantrine.[1] It is used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum that is not treatable with chloroquine.[1] It is not typically used to prevent malaria.[1] It is taken by mouth.[1]
Common side effects include muscle and joint pains, fever, loss of appetite, and headache.[1] Serious side effects include prolongation of the QT interval.[1] While not well studied, it appears to be safe for use in pregnancy.[1] The dose does not need changing in those with mild or moderate kidney or liver problems.[1]
This combination came into medical use in 1992
Medical uses
The combination is an effective and well-tolerated malaria treatment, providing high cure rates even in areas of multi-drug resistance.[6][7]
Side effects
Coartem can cause
Interactions
Food, in particular fat, enhances the absorption of both artemether and lumefantrine, and patients are advised to take the tablets with food as soon as a meal can be tolerated. Coartem has a potential to
History
In 2001, the first fixed dose
Society and culture
Access to treatment
Coartem is provided without profit to developing countries using grants from the
Prior to this program, Novartis was criticised for a court case they launched against India, seeking to prohibit the marketing of cheap generic drugs. An Indian court ruled against Novartis, saying that the case was a "threat to people suffering from cancer [...] and other diseases who are too poor to pay for them".[11]
Approval in the United States
On April 8, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Coartem was approved for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria infections in adults and children weighing at least five kilograms (approximately 11 pounds)[12] becoming the first artemisinin-based combination therapy approved in the United States.
Dispersible
In January 2009, Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) launched Coartem Dispersible, an artemisinin-based combination therapy developed specifically for children with malaria. Coartem Dispersible contains the same ratio of artemether and lumefantrine as Coartem. It works as well as other formulations.[13] The sweet-tasting Coartem Dispersible tablets disperse quickly in small amounts of water, easing administration and ensuring effective dosing.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Artemether and Lumefantrine". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved Dec 2, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9783527326693. Archivedfrom the original on 2015-12-08.
- ISBN 9781420017137. Archivedfrom the original on 2015-12-08.
- hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ISBN 9781284057560.
- PMID 16760509.
- PMID 17045558.
- ^ a b Drugs.com: Coartem Archived May 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ WHO Prequalification Programme: Priority Essential Medicines. Access to Artemesinin-based antimalarial medicinal products of acceptable quality. Available at http://healthtech.whoz.int/pq/lists/[permanent dead link] mal_suppliers.pdf Accessed May 2008.
- ^ WHO Health Systems and Services: Prequalification Programme. Available at "New Page 1". Archived from the original on 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2009-05-20. Accessed May 2008.
- ^ Make Trade Fair: Patients before Profits. Archived May 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "FDA Approves Coartem Tablets to Treat Malaria". www.fda.gov. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- S2CID 8207921.