Pyronaridine - An effective antimalarial against multidrug-resistant malaria

Pyronaridine, administered intramuscularly (im) to Swiss mice infected with the lethal multidrug-resistant Plasmodium yeolii nigeriensis, was found to exert high blood schizontocidal activity. The efficacy of doses of pyronar idine ranging from 0.625 to 30 mg (base/kg) was evaluated using a 4 day tre atment schedule (drug was administered at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hrs). It was fou nd that doses of 2.5mg/kg and higher protected animals completely from the lethal effects of the parasite. The same degree of protection was found whe n the treatment duration was reduced to 3 days. This study shows that pyron aridine is a potentially useful antimalarial drug that could be exploited f or the control of multidrug-resistant malaria infection. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.