USFDA Approved Tafenoquine for Radical Cure of Vivax Malaria

The FDA approved tafenoquine (Krintafel, GSK) for the "radical cure" of Plasmodium vivax malaria in patients, ages ≥16 years, who are receiving anti-malarial therapy for acute infection, the manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced.

Life Cycle of P. Vivax

At present, Primaquine is the only FDA approved drug prescribed for 14 days for the radical cure of Vivax Malaria. Tafenoquine 300 will be a single dose therapy for patients over 16 years.   

The newly approved drug is contraindicated for patients who are allergic to tafenoquine or other 8-aminoquinoline-containing agents, as well as for those who are glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient. Patients should be tested if their status is unknown.