Atovaquone/proguanil provides effective prophylaxis against Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Atovaquone/proguanil (Malorone®) is a fixed-dose combination tablet of two antimalarial agents. It is highly effective in the prevention of P. falciparum malaria and is active against drug-resistant strains. In well designed clinical trials, atovaquone/proguanil (250/100mg daily or based on bodyweight in children weighing <40kg) demonstrated similar prophylactic efficacy to mefloquine (100% for both) and better prophylactic efficacy than chloroquine plus proguanil (70%). Atovaquone/proguanil is well tolerated. It caused significantly fewer gastrointestinal adverse events than chloroquine plus proguanil and significantly fewer neuropsychiatric adverse events than mefloquine. Significantly less recipients of atovaquone/proguanil discontinued therapy due to an adverse event than individuals receiving mefloquine or chloroquine plus proguanil. In the post-travel period, atovaquone/proguanil needs to be taken for a shorter time period than other antimalarials )7 vs 28 days). © 2004 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.