Fosmidomycin for malaria

Abstract

Safe and effective antimalarial drugs with new methods of action are urgently needed. Fosmidomycin inhibits the synthesis of isoprenoid by Plasmodium falciparum, and suppresses the growth of multidrug-resistant strains in vitro. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of fosmidomycin in adults with malaria in Gabon. We administered the drug for 5, 4, or 3 days (1.2 g every 8 h), in nine, eight, and ten evaluable patients, respectively. All treatment regimens were well tolerated. Cure rates by day 14 were 89% (eight of nine), 88% (seven of eight), and 60% (six of ten), for treatment durations of 5, 4, and 3 days, respectively. These data suggest that fosmidomycin is a safe and effective treatment for uncomplicated malaria if given for 4 days or more.