E-drug: Chinese-developed malarial drug Artekin
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From UN wire 6 March 2003
MALARIA: Chinese Drug Seen As Potential Major Advance
The Chinese-developed malarial drug Artekin, which the World
Health Organization said has the greatest potential of all malaria
drugs, could be a major weapon against the disease, the South
China Morning Post reported today.
Malaria expert Li Guoqiao of the Guangzhou University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine developed Artekin, which is made
from a Chinese plant and may crack Western pharmaceutical
company dominance in malaria drugs, the Post said. Scientists said
in December early clinical trials showed eradication rates of the
malarial parasite in 95-100 percent of patients tested. Li said
Artekin, which he has been selling to public hospitals for a third of
the price of similar treatments, produces rapid results in its short,
two-day treatment schedule, making it easier for patients to stick to
their treatment. WHO regional adviser on malaria Allan Schapira has
provided support for Li's research, but Janis Lazdins-Helds, a
scientist with the WHO's special program for research and training
in tropical diseases, said the WHO needs more information on the
treatment before adding the drug to its Model List of Essential
Drugs.
Li said the drug, financed by local pharmaceutical companies and
the WHO, would be sold in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe and
is being produced in Vietnam (Carrie Chan, South China Morning
Post, March 6).
Dr. Leela McCullough
Director of Information Services
SATELLIFE
30 California Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
Tel: +617-926-9400 Fax: +617-926-1212
Email: leela@usa.healthnet.org
Web: http://www.healthnet.org
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