Triple Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies for Malaria - A New Paradigm?

Recent gains in the fight against malaria are threatened by the emergence and spread of artemisinin and partner drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). When artemisinins are combined with a single partner drug, all recommended artemisinin-based combination therapies have shown reduced efficacy in some countries in the GMS at some point. Novel drugs are not available for the near future. Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies, combining artemisinins with two currently available partner drugs, will provide one of the last remaining safe and effective treatments for falciparum malaria that can be deployed rapidly in the GMS, whereas their deployment beyond the GMS could delay or prevent the global emergence and spread of resistance to currently available drugs.

Automated summary

Recent progress in the fight against malaria is at risk due to the emergence and spread of artemisinin and partner drug resistance, particularly in the Greater Mekong Subregion. New drugs are not expected in the near future, making it crucial to utilize triple artemisinin-based combination therapies to combat falciparum malaria effectively. Deployment of such therapies beyond the GMS could potentially help prevent global resistance to currently available drugs.