Anti-Malarial Drugs Demonstrate Potential in Covid-19 Treatment
Anti-Malarial Drugs |
Anti-malarial drugs are used in the treatment of
malaria. Most antimalarial drugs target the erythrocytic stage of infection that
causes symptomatic illness. These include, Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone), Chloroquine,
Doxycycline, Mefloquine, Primaquine, and Tafenoquine (Arakoda). Chloroquine is the
preferred treatment for any parasite. Tropomyosin or thyroxine are used to
prepare these drugs. The drugs contain both antimalarials and topical agents
for the purpose of alleviating the pain caused by malaria.
High prevalence of malaria around the world is
primarily boosting demand for Anti-Malarial
Drugs. In 2020 an estimated 241 million cases of malaria occurred
worldwide and 627,000 people died, mostly children in sub-Saharan Africa. About
2,000 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the U.S annually. Several companies are
focused on approval and launch of new drugs for the treatment of malaria. In
May 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved artesunate for
injection to treat severe malaria in adult and pediatric patients. Recently, in December 2021, Zydus Cadila, Indian
multinational pharmaceutical company, received Orphan Drug Designation for ZY19489
(MMV253), an antimalarial compound.
Various companies are also focused on R&D of new anti-malarial
drugs. In December 2019, Ipca Laboratories collaborated with Medicines for
Malaria Venture to develop a novel antimalarial co-formulation, Atoguanil, a
combination of atovaquone and proguanil. The demand for drugs for the treatment
of malaria is significant due to high prevalence of malaria in Africa.
According to the World Health Organization, Africa carries a disproportionately
high share of the global malaria burden. In 2018, the region was home to 93% of
malaria cases and 94% of malaria deaths
Anti-malarial drugs have demonstrated potential in COVID-19
treatment. In December 2021, a Danish laboratory study reported that atovaquone,
a part of the antimalarial Malarone, has a protective effect against
coronavirus in human lung cells.
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Anti-Malarial drugs- https://bit.ly/3hti2ZT
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