
Child-friendly Anti-Malarials


Despite WHO's global strategy initiated in 2015, aimed at reducing malaria incidence and death rates, especially among children, these targets remain unmet. Lumefantrine (LUM), a BCS class IV drug with poor aqueous solubility and low absorption, is used in combination with Artemether (AT) as in Coartem®/Riamet® Dispersible tablets for treating uncomplicated malaria. This combination benefits from AT's rapid action on parasitemia and LUM's longer-lasting effects. However, LUM's low oral bioavailability, influenced by dietary intake, poses challenges for effective treatment, potentially leading to treatment failure and malaria recurrence.
This collaborative project between Rondol, BASF and Queen's University Belfast aimed to develop and manufacture a robust child-friendly fixed dose combination (FDC) while reducing the dose strength of Lumefantrine and the frequency of administration.
Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, led to 242 million cases and an estimated 608,000 deaths in 2022, with children under 5 being particularly vulnerable.