Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and Cipla, jointly with Vimal, organised a symposium to discuss the use of Artemisin Combination Therapy in Myanmar.
If you would like to download the Agenda, please click here.
ASMQ Fixed-dose combination
ASMQ brochure, click here.
ASMQ Scientific overview, click here.
Scientific publications
Effectiveness of five artemisinin combination regimens with or without primaquine in uncomplicated falciparum malaria: an open-label randomised trial by Smithuis F, Kyaw Kyaw M, Phe O, Win T, Phyo Aung P, Pyay Phyo Oo A, Naing A L, Yee Nyo M, Htun Myint N Z, Imwong M, Ashley E, Lee S J, White N J. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2010 September, Vol. 10, Issue 10, Pages 673 – 681.
Summary: The Artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) is recommended as first-line treatment of P. falciparum malaria worldwide, and fixed-dose combinations are preferred by WHO. This study aimed to compare effectiveness of all four WHO-recommended fixed-dose ACTs (artesunate–mefloquine, artesunate–amodiaquine, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine, artemether–lumefantrine) and a loose tablet combination of artesunate and mefloquine in Burmese adults and children. Artesunate–mefloquine provided the greatest post-treatment suppression of malaria.
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New fixed dose artesunate/mefloquine for treating multidrug resistant Plasmodium falciparum in adults – a comparative phase IIb safety and pharmacokinetic study with standard dose non-fixed artesunate plus mefloquine by Krudsood S, Looareesuwan S, Tangpukdee N, Wilairatama P, Phumratanaprapin W, Leowattana W, Chalermrut K, Ramanathan S, Navaratnam V, Olliaro P, Vaillant M, Kiechel JR, Taylor WRJ. AAC, 2010 June, doi:10.1128/AAC.01187-09
Summary: A new fixed dose artesunate (AS)/mefloquine (MQ) was assessed in adults, hospitalized for 28 days, with uncomplicated, drug resistant falciparum malaria.
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Pharmacokinetics and Comparative Bioavailability of Artesunate and Mefloquine Administered Separately or as a Fixed Combination Product to Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria by Olliaro P, Ramanathan S, Vaillant M, Reuter S, Evans A, Krudsood S, Looareesuwan S,
Kiechel J-R, Taylor W, and Navaratnam V. Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability, 2010 May, Volume 2(3): 059-066.
Summary: The pharmacokinetics of artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, the artesunate metabolite and predominant species and mefloquine were assessed in a single-dose, randomised, crossover design study in healthy volunteers and in a multiple-dose, randomised, parallel group study in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
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An open label randomized comparison of mefloquine–artesunate as separate tablets vs. a new co-formulated combination for the treatment of uncomplicated multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria in Thailand by Ashley EA, Lwin KM, McGready R, Simon WH, Phaiphun L, Proux S, Wangseang N, Taylor W, Stepniewska K, Nawamaneerat W, Thwai KL, Barends M, Leowattana W, Olliaro P, Singhasivanon P, White NJ, Nosten F. Trop Med Int Health. 2006 Nov;11(11):1653-60.
Summary: Delivering drugs in a fixed combination is essential to the success of the strategy of artemisinin-based combination therapy. This prevents one drug being taken without the protection of the other, reducing the chance of emergence and spread of drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. A new fixed combination of mefloquine plus artesunate has been developed. This was compared with the conventional regimen of separate tablets for the treatment of uncomplicated multidrug resistant falciparum malaria.
Click here to download the full article [PDF]
Prof. Visweswaran Navaratnam, Head of Regional Office, DNDi, Penang, Malaysia. Co-Chairperson
Opening Speech: The Situation of Malaria in East Asia [357KB]
Dr. Soe Aung, Former Director General, Department of Health, Ministry of Health, Myanmar. Project Advisor/ Director, Programme Management Unit, MMA
The Malaria situation in Myanmar and the current policies for treatment and control [2.1MB]
Dr. Jean -René Kiechel, Senior Pharmaceutical Advisor and Project Manager, DNDi, Geneva, Switzerland
DNDi‘s contribution with new partnerships: The development of the ASMQ Fixed Dose Combination [1.3MB]
Dr. Frank Smithuis, Director, Medical Action Myanmar
ACTs: summary of findings and results of clinical studies in Myanmar [855KB]
Dr. Walter RJ Bob Taylor, Consultant Physician, Travel and Migration Medicine Unit, Geneva University Hospital Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand
Tolerability of ACTs in malaria patients [673KB]
Dr. Florence Camus-Bablon, Senior access advisor, DNDi Geneva, Switzerland
New drugs for neglected diseases, New hope for neglected patients: an overview of DNDi [790KB]
