GSK and MVV debut malaria drug in Brazil and Thailand

GSK and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) have jointly announced the introduction of a new single-dose medication, tafenoquine, designed to prevent the recurrence of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Brazil and Thailand, regions where the disease is prevalent. This groundbreaking treatment is taken alongside chloroquine to achieve a complete cure.

Tafenoquine is a type of antimalarial medication classified as an 8-aminoquinoline. Its primary function is to target the liver stage of the P. vivax malaria lifecycle. When combined with chloroquine, which focuses on the blood-stage infection, tafenoquine can comprehensively treat both stages of the disease. However, its use is not without risks. Tafenoquine can induce acute hemolytic anemia in individuals who have a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Therefore, it is crucial to perform a G6PD test before prescribing this medication.

Both the Brazilian and Thai Ministries of Health have carried out feasibility studies to explore the routine use of tafenoquine, contingent on point-of-care G6PD testing. These studies, supported by MMV, have significantly influenced their decisions to incorporate this novel anti-malarial treatment into their public health strategies.

In Brazil, the pressing public health crisis in the Yanomami Special Indigenous Health District, where P. vivax malaria is notably widespread, expedited the approval of tafenoquine in March 2024. To date, tafenoquine has gained approval in several countries, including Australia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Guyana, Peru, the Philippines, and the United States.

Thomas Breuer, GSK’s chief global health officer, emphasized the company's enduring dedication to combating malaria. He highlighted that the launch of tafenoquine, co-administered with chloroquine, in Brazil and Thailand represents significant progress in the fight against P. vivax malaria. This combined treatment is the first radical cure medicine available for this type of malaria.

Breuer also acknowledged the critical role of partnerships in achieving this milestone. Collaborations with MMV and PATH (the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health) through the Partnership for Vivax Elimination have been essential in optimizing this new treatment option, enabling countries to introduce this effective new tool in their efforts to eliminate malaria.