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Rebecca Voelker

JAMA. 2006;295:485-486.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

A complex mix of factors—lack of funds and political will, drug shortages, and complicated drug regimens—have stood in the way of more effective malaria treatment in underdeveloped nations. But international health experts hope the availability later this year of two new fixed-dose combination medications will help alleviate what they call an "appalling" crisis: the failure to treat millions with malaria.

One of the new formulations is a fixed-dose combination of artesunate and amodiaquine; the other combines artesunate and mefloquine. Both formulations are known as artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Artesunate, which is derived from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, can rapidly improve malaria symptoms. Combining it with synthetic drugs such as mefloquine and amodiaquine accelerates the therapeutic response.

A new formulation of antimalarial drugs that combines artesunate and amodiaquine reduces the daily number of pills patients must take from 8 pills to only 2 pills. (Photo credit: Pierre . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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