In vitro activities of benflumetol against 158 Senegalese isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in comparison with those of standard antimalarial drugs

The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)s) of benflumetol (range, 12.5 to 2 50 nM; mean, 55.1 nM) for 158 Senegalese isolates were evaluated. Ten isola tes (6%) showed decreased susceptibility to benflumetol. Benflumetol was sl ightly more potent against chloroquine-resistant isolates (P < 0.025). No c orrelation or weak correlations in the responses to benflumetol and pyrimet hamine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, artemether, quinine, and pyronaridine wer e observed, and these correlations are insufficient to suggest cross-resist ance. Benflumetol may be an important alternative drug for the treatment of chloroquine-resistant malaria.