FIRST ANTI-MALARIA MEDICINE FOR TREATING RECURRING FORM OF MALARIA GIVEN APPROVAL

Tafenoquine is an anti-malaria drug specifically for treating recurring form of malaria which is believed to make over 8 million people ill yearly.
This type of malaria is a particular challenge to get rid of as it can remain dormant in the liver for years before reawakening many times.

Recurring malaria is caused by the parasite plasmodium vivax - the most common type of malaria outside Sub-Saharan Africa.

And infected people can act as reservoirs of the disease as to when the parasite reawakens in their bodies a mosquito(vector) can carry that parasite on to someone else causing infection.

Another medication that can be used to get rid of malaria hiding in the liver called primaquine has been in use but experts argue about the advantage of the single dose of tafenoquine needed compared to primaquine which is needed to be taken for 14 days - a long time for some patients to adhere to taking the medication and subsequently quitting it because they feel better already thereby leaving the parasite in its reservoir (the host's liver)

The FDA(Food and Drug Administration) points out that there are important side effects to be aware of.

For example; people with an enzyme problem, called G6PD deficiency, should not take the drug as it can cause severe anaemia,

The regulator recommends people are tested for the deficiency for this before it is given - which can pose a problem in poorer areas where malaria is common.

There are also concerns that at higher doses it can be a problem for people with psychiatric illnesses.

Regulators around the world will now look at the drug to see if they can recommend it for their populations.