Tafenoquine

(Krintafel®)

Tafenoquine

Drug updated on 10/29/2024

Dosage FormTablet (oral; 150 mg)
Drug ClassAntimalarials
Ongoing and
Completed Studies
ClinicalTrials.gov

Indication

  • Indicated for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of Plasmodium vivax malaria in patients aged 16 years and older who are receiving appropriate antimalarial therapy for acute P
  • vivax infection.

Latest News

loading GIF

Summary
This AI-generated content is provided without warranty, with no liability accepted for reliance on it. Learn more.

  • This summary is based on the review of seven systematic review(s)/meta-analysis(es). [1-7]
  • Tafenoquine’s effectiveness in providing a radical cure for Plasmodium vivax malaria is dose-dependent, with a 300 mg dose resulting in 70% of the maximal hypnozoiticidal effect and a 450 mg dose reducing the risk of recurrence by 90%.
  • Tafenoquine was as effective as primaquine in preventing P. vivax recurrences (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.8 to 1.34) and significantly reduced recurrences compared to placebo (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.88).
  • In long-term travelers, tafenoquine with maintenance doses was as effective as mefloquine for malaria prevention (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.44-2.46), and a loading dose of tafenoquine alone was equally effective for short-term travelers (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.04-22.42).
  • Tafenoquine is generally well-tolerated in adults, with no convincing evidence for neurologic, ophthalmic, or cardiac toxicities. However, reversible asymptomatic vortex keratopathy and a single serious case of decreased macular sensitivity were reported.
  • Significant adverse events related to hemoglobin levels were observed, with 15 out of 23 serious events in the tafenoquine groups involving a drop in hemoglobin by >3 g/dL.
  • Tafenoquine should not be given to pregnant women or individuals with G6PD deficiency due to the risk of hemolysis, and it remains untested in children. Study participants ranged in age from 12 to 60 years, with 27.3% being women.