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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Atovaquone-proguanil versus chloroquine-proguanil for malaria prophylaxis in non-immune travellers: a randomised, double-blind study. Malarone International Study Team.

BACKGROUND: Chloroquine plus proguanil is widely used for malaria chemoprophylaxis despite low effectiveness in areas where multidrug-resistant malaria occurs. Studies have shown that atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride is safe and effective for prevention of falciparum malaria in lifelong residents of malaria-endemic countries, but little is known about non-immune travellers. METHODS: In a double-blind equivalence trial, 1083 participants travelling to a malaria-endemic area were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: atovaquone-proguanil plus placebos for chloroquine and proguanil, or chloroquine, proguanil, and placebo for atovaquone-proguanil. Follow-up was by telephone 7 and 60 days after travel and at a clinic at 28 days. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to a malaria circumsporozoite protein. Blood and serum samples of participants with a potential malaria diagnosis were tested in a reference laboratory. FINDINGS: 7 days after travel, at least one adverse event was reported by 311 (61%) of 511 participants who received atovaquone-proguanil and 329 (64%) of 511 who received chloroquine-proguanil. People receiving atovaquone-proguanil had a lower frequency of treatment-related gastrointestinal adverse events (59 [12%] vs 100 [20%], p=0.001), and of treatment-related adverse events of moderate or severe intensity (37 [7%] vs 56 [11%], p=0.05). There were fewer treatment-related adverse events that caused prophylaxis to be discontinued in the atovaquone-proguanil group than in the chloroquine-proguanil group (one [0.2%] vs ten [2%], p=0.015). INTERPRETATION: Overall the two preparations were similarly tolerated. However, significantly fewer adverse gastrointestinal events were observed in the atovaquone-proguanil group in than in the chloroquine-proguanil group.

Adolescent↗

Atovaquone-proguanil versus chloroquine-proguanil for malaria prophylaxis in nonimmune pediatric travelers: results of an international, randomized, open-label study.

Atovaquone-proguanil has been shown to be effective and well tolerated for malaria prophylaxis in residents of countries of endemicity and in nonimmune adult travelers, but data about traveling children are limited. In a randomized, open-label, multicenter prophylaxis trial, 221 nonimmune pediatric travelers (age, 2-17 years) received either atovaquone-proguanil or chloroquine-proguanil. Safety and clinical outcome were evaluated 7, 28, and 60 days after travel. By posttravel day 7, a total of 39 (35%) of 110 atovaquone-proguanil and 41 (37%) of 111 chloroquine-proguanil recipients reported > or =1 adverse event. The data indicate that, over the course of treatment, fewer atovaquone-proguanil recipients had treatment-related adverse events (8% vs. 14%), including gastrointestinal complaints (5% vs. 10%). Two subjects discontinued prophylaxis because of drug-related adverse events; both had received chloroquine-proguanil. Observed compliance with prophylaxis was similar before and during travel, but it was higher for atovaquone-proguanil in the posttravel period. No study participant developed malaria. Atovaquone-proguanil was well tolerated and is an important addition to the limited arsenal of prophylactic agents available to children.

Adolescent↗

The efficacy of chemoprophylaxis against malaria with chloroquine plus proguanil, mefloquine, and atovaquone plus proguanil in travelers from Denmark.

BACKGROUND: The risk of malaria infection in travelers is seldom known in detail and neither is the efficacy of different prophylactic regimens, due to a lack of controlled trials. Surveillance of malaria diagnosed after return can provide data on risk and efficacy. METHODS: An open case-control study was initiated. Imported cases were notified to our department and were studied in 320 permanent residents in Denmark, returning from abroad with malaria from 1997 to 1999. These were compared with a group of 600 travelers who were not infected with malaria and matched by age, sex, and destination. Information on the use of chemoprophylaxis and the length of stay in malarious areas were obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria were notified of which 103 had used chloroquine and proguanil, 16 mefloquine, and 3 atovaquone and proguanil as prophylaxis, whereas the rest had taken other drugs or no prophylaxis. This study showed that the risk increased with increasing exposure and that compliance was lower especially for mefloquine users in malaria cases compared with controls. The study provided the first comprehensive data on the use of atovaquone/proguanil to travelers. The estimated efficacy of chloroquine and proguanil, mefloquine, and atovaquone and proguanil in fully compliant users was 1:599, 1:2,232, and 1:1,943, respectively, P. falciparum cases per prescription. The country specific risk data showed that the risk of getting malaria varied from 1 per 140 travelers to Ghana to almost 1 per 40,000 to Thailand, providing data that allow the use of prophylaxis to be restricted to high-risk areas. CONCLUSION: There was a considerable variation in risk between the countries with the highest risk in tropical Africa. Chloroquine and proguanil was less efficient compared with mefloquine. Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) was at least as efficient as mefloquine, but breakthroughs were observed.

Africa↗

Multiple-dose pharmacokinetic study of proguanil and cycloguanil following 12-hourly administration of 100 mg proguanil hydrochloride.

A pharmacokinetic study with 12-hourly doses of 100 mg proguanil hydrochloride over 15 days has been conducted in six adult male Malaysian volunteers. Steady state for proguanil was established after the fourth dose on Day 2, for the active metabolite cycloguanil as from Day 3 inclusive. The steady state mean peak concentration of proguanil was 1201.6 +/- 132.4 nmol/l, the mean trough concentration 650.0 +/- 58.1 nmol/l. The corresponding values for cycloguanil were 317.0 +/- 44.4 nmol/l (mean peak) and 230.8 +/- 35.1 nmol/l (mean trough). The profiles and peak/trough ratios of proguanil and cycloguanil with 12-hourly dosing offer better prospects for protection against malaria than those obtained with 24-hourly doses of 200 mg proguanil hydrochloride, the current routine in malaria chemoprophylaxis.

Adult↗

Proguanil polymorphism does not affect the antimalarial activity of proguanil combined with atovaquone in vitro.

Clinical studies have shown proguanil (PROG) combined with atovaquone (ATQ) to be an effective and safe antimalarial combination for the treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. PROG is a prodrug, which undergoes hepatic metabolism to its pharmacologically active metabolite cycloguanil (CYC). Individuals exhibit genetic polymorphism with respect to PROG, and can be phenotyped as either extensive metabolizers (EMs) or poor metabolizers (PMs) by measuring their PROG/CYC concentration ratio in plasma following PROG/ATQ administration. PMs produce lower plasma concentrations of CYC than EMs and thus may be more susceptible to prophylaxis or treatment failure. Both PROG and CYC potentiate the activity of ATQ in vitro. The antimalarial activity ex vivo of Thai patients' plasma samples obtained from EMs and PMs given concurrent PROG and ATQ was studied using the K1 isolate of Plasmodium falciparum. This isolate is resistant to PROG and CYC, but sensitive to ATQ. Maximum inhibitory dilution profiles of the patients' plasma samples containing PROG and ATQ from EMs and PMs were similar. These findings indicate that differences in plasma drug concentrations between EMs and PMs did not alter the antimalarial activity in vitro against the K1 isolate. The phenotypic status of individuals is not an important issue in the treatment of patients with PROG/ATQ.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of proguanil in malaria patients treated with proguanil plus atovaquone.

Clinical studies have shown atovaquone (ATQ), a new blood schizontocidal drug, in combination with proguanil (PROG) to be very effective in the treatment of acute multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. The multiple dose pharmacokinetics of PROG were determined in Thai patients with acute falciparum malaria given PROG alone (200 mg PROG twice a day for 3 days, n = 4) and concurrently PROG and ATQ (200 mg PROG and 500 mg ATQ twice a day for 3 days, n = 12). There were no statistical differences (p > 0.05) in the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC), apparent oral clearance (CL/F) and elimination half-life (t1/2) of PROG between patients given PROG alone and PROG/ ATQ. The median (range) kinetic values of PROG in patients given PROG alone and PROG/ATQ were respectively: CL/F = 1.25 l/h/kg (0.99-1.45) and 0.95 (0.73-1.32) l/h/kg, and t1/2 = 14.2 hours (9.3-16.8) and 13.6 hours (9.1-17.6). The CL/F and t1/2 of PROG in the Thai patients treated with the 2 treatment regimens were also comparable to values reported in healthy Thai volunteers given a standard prophylactic dose (200 mg PROG). The results of this preliminary study suggest that ATQ is unlikely to affect the pharmacokinetics of PROG to a clinically important extent at an ATQ dosage of 500 mg twice a day for 3 days in malaria infected patients.

Acute Disease↗

Lack of a pharmacokinetic interaction between atovaquone and proguanil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of the putative effect of atovaquone on the pharmacokinetics of proguanil and to determine whether the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone are affected by concomitant administration of proguanil, with both drugs administered for 3 days to healthy adult volunteers. METHODS: This was an open-label, randomized, three-way cross-over study, in which 18 healthy volunteers received 400 mg proguanil, 1000 mg atovaquone and 1000 mg atovaquone + 400 mg proguanil. Each treatment was given once daily for 3 days with a 3-week wash-out period between each occasion. For the assay of proguanil, cycloguanil and atovaquone, blood was sampled before dosing and at regular intervals over 8 days when proguanil was given, and over 17 days when atovaquone was given. RESULTS: The geometric mean of the area under the atovaquone plasma concentration-time curve calculated from 0 to 24 h after the last dose (AUC0->24h) was 180 microg x ml(-1) h following administration of atovaquone alone and 193 microg x ml(-1) h following atovaquone with proguanil. The geometric mean AUC0->24h for proguanil was 6296 ng x ml(-1) x h after proguanil alone and 5819 ng x ml(-1) x h following proguanil with atovaquone. The corresponding values for the metabolite cycloguanil were 1297 ng x ml(-1) x h and 1187 ng x ml(-1) x h, respectively. The geometric mean elimination half-life (t1/2) of atovaquone was 57.1 h when given alone and 59.0 h when administered together with proguanil. The corresponding geometric mean values of t1/2 for proguanil were 13.7 h and 14.5 h. Exploratory statistical analysis showed no important gender effects on the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone, proguanil, or cycloguanil. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of atovaquone and proguanil and its metabolite, cycloguanil, were not different when atovaquone and proguanil were given alone or in combination.

Adult↗

Concordance between proguanil phenotype and CYP2C19 genotype in Chinese.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether urinary proguanil (chlorguanide) metabolite ratios incorporating its minor metabolite, 4-chlorophenylbiguanide, define individuals as extensive metabolisers (EMs) or poor metabolisers (PMs) of CYP2C19 more reliably than the standard phenotyping ratio [proguanil/cycloguanil (PG/CG)]. METHODS: Thirty-eight ethnic Chinese subjects ingested 100 mg proguanil, collected urine for 8 h and were genotyped for CYP2C19*1, *2 and *3 alleles. Proguanil metabolite ratios (PG/CG; proguanil/4-chlorophenylbiguanide (PG/CPB); proguanil/(cycloguanil+4-chlorophenylbiguanide) [PG/(CG+CPB)] were determined from the urinary recoveries of proguanil, cycloguanil and 4-chlorophenylbiguanide. Proguanil phenotypes were determined from the ratios using frequency distribution histograms, probit and normal test variable plots. RESULTS: Data from 35 subjects were suitable for analysis. Of subjects, 5 were CYP2C19*2/*2, 1 was *2/*3, 21 were *1/*2 and 8 were *1/*1. A rank order of proguanil metabolic ratios was observed, with *1/*1 subjects having the lowest, *1/*2 intermediate and *2/*2, *2/*3 having the highest ratios (P<0.0001). All subjects with PM genotypes were classified as PMs of proguanil by probit analysis of PG/CPB and PG/(CG+CPB) ratios, but not PG/CG. CONCLUSION: A gene-dose effect of CYP2C19 genotype on the conversion of proguanil to cycloguanil and 4-chlorophenylbiguanide has been demonstrated in ethnic Chinese subjects. Complete concordance between PM CYP2C19 genotype and PM phenotype was only achieved with probit analysis of proguanil metabolite ratios that incorporated 4-chlorophenylbiguanide.

Adult↗

A mechanism for the synergistic antimalarial action of atovaquone and proguanil.

A combination of atovaquone and proguanil has been found to be quite effective in treating malaria, with little evidence of the emergence of resistance when atovaquone was used as a single agent. We have examined possible mechanisms for the synergy between these two drugs. While proguanil by itself had no effect on electron transport or mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim), it significantly enhanced the ability of atovaquone to collapse DeltaPsim when used in combination. This enhancement was observed at pharmacologically achievable doses. Proguanil acted as a biguanide rather than as its metabolite cycloguanil (a parasite dihydrofolate reductase [DHFR] inhibitor) to enhance the atovaquone effect; another DHFR inhibitor, pyrimethamine, also had no enhancing effect. Proguanil-mediated enhancement was specific for atovaquone, since the effects of other mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, such as myxothiazole and antimycin, were not altered by inclusion of proguanil. Surprisingly, proguanil did not enhance the ability of atovaquone to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport in malaria parasites. These results suggest that proguanil in its prodrug form acts in synergy with atovaquone by lowering the effective concentration at which atovaquone collapses DeltaPsim in malaria parasites. This could explain the paradoxical success of the atovaquone-proguanil combination even in regions where proguanil alone is ineffective due to resistance. The results also suggest that the atovaquone-proguanil combination may act as a site-specific uncoupler of parasite mitochondria in a selective manner.

Animals↗

Atovaquone + proguanil: new preparation. Second-line antimalarial combination.

(1) Quinine, halofantrine and mefloquine are effective treatments for most cases of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. (2) The choice of drug for prevention of P. falciparum malaria in highly endemic regions depends on the risk of chloroquine resistance, and possibly mefloquine resistance. The reference treatments are the chloroquine + proguanil combination, and mefloquine. (3) Marketing authorisation has been granted in France for the atovaquone + proguanil combination, in curative and preventive treatment of P. falciparum malaria. (4) The efficacy of the atovaquone + proguanil combination in uncomplicated malaria is similar to that of other treatments. Some strains of malaria seem to have reduced sensitivity. (5) The atovaquone + proguanil combination is also effective as prophylaxis, but there are no clinical trials showing whether it is equivalent to or better than other preventive treatments in non immune travellers. (6) According to the French licensing terms, atovaquone + proguanil prophylaxis can be stopped 7 days after leaving an endemic area, rather than 3-4 weeks with other drugs. This recommendation is based on weak evidence: mainly on theoretical arguments and on the absence of clinical malaria in some patients with evidence of P. falciparum infection. (7) The atovaquone + proguanil combination is less effective against other Plasmodium species (P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax). Chloroquine remains the reference treatment for these forms of malaria, which do not carry a risk of serious complications. (8) There were few adverse events in people taking the atovaquone + proguanil combination during clinical trials. During curative treatment, this combination caused more nausea and vomiting than reference treatments, while, in the prophylactic setting, it had slightly fewer adverse effects than the chloroquine + proguanil combination or mefloquine alone. But the drop out rate was not significantly different between treatment groups. (9) Atovaquone should be taken with food, to improve absorption. (10) The atovaquone + proguanil combination is expensive and is not refunded in France. In contrast, curative treatment with quinine is cheap, and is fully refunded. (11) Mefloquine and quinine remain the treatments of choice for uncomplicated malaria where there is chloroquine resistance. The atovaquone + proguanil combination is useful if mefloquine and quinine are contraindicated; unlike halofantrine, this combination does not carry the risk of serious drug interactions. In the prophylactic setting, the lack of experience with atovaquone means it should only be used as a second line option, after mefloquine, for short-term prophylaxis in areas with a high prevalence of chloroquine resistance.

Antimalarials↗

Inhibition by omeprazole of proguanil metabolism: mechanism of the interaction in vitro and prediction of in vivo results from the in vitro experiments.

Both the antimalarial prodrug proguanil and the gastric proton pump inhibitor omeprazole are substrates for cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C19 and CYP3A. However, the relative contribution of each enzyme to proguanil bioactivation to cycloguanil and to the metabolism of omeprazole, as well as their potential to interact, remains to be examined. The bioactivation of proguanil to its active metabolite cycloguanil was studied in vitro in human liver microsomes and in vivo in 12 healthy subjects, in the absence and in the presence of omeprazole. The formation of cycloguanil from proguanil exhibited biphasic kinetic behavior in four of six human livers, indicating that at least two enzymes are responsible for this metabolic step. Cycloguanil formation activity did not correlate with immunoreactive CYP3A4 content or with CYP3A4 activity, as measured by testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation, suggesting that CYP3A4 plays a limited role in cycloguanil formation. Furthermore, troleandomycin (10 microM) inhibited only 10 to 17% of cycloguanil formation at proguanil concentrations of 100 and 500 microM. At a proguanil concentration of 20 microM, omeprazole at 10 microM inhibited cycloguanil formation in vitro by 47 +/- 59%. These in vitro results were consistent with the results of our in vivo study in healthy subjects, which showed a 32 +/- 11% decrease in proguanil apparent oral clearance and a 65 +/- 8% decrease in proguanil partial metabolic clearance to cycloguanil in the presence of omeprazole (both P < .001). We conclude that in vitro studies of proguanil metabolism and interactions are predictive of in vivo situations, that CYP2C19 is the main enzyme responsible for proguanil bioactivation to cycloguanil and that omeprazole inhibits this biotransformation in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting this enzyme.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Effects of omeprazole and cimetidine on the urinary metabolic ratio of proguanil in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of omeprazole and cimetidine on the urinary recovery and metabolic ratio of proguanil in healthy subjects. METHODS: A metabolic interaction study was conducted in 12 young, healthy extensive metabolisers of proguanil, a CYP2C19 substrate, following a single 100 mg oral dose by analysis of urine collected for 8 hours. RESULTS: Concomitant administration of omeprazole (20 mg), a CYP2C19 substrate, had no significant effect on the urinary recovery of proguanil or cycloguanil, or the ratio of cycloguanil to proguanil [mean 0.76 (95% CI: 0.53 to 0.98) proguanil alone; mean 0.65 (95% CI: 0.40 to 0.89) proguanil plus omeprazole]. In contrast, cimetidine (400 mg), a general CYP inhibitor and renal organic cation secretion inhibitor, decreased the urinary recovery of cycloguanil and reduced the metabolic ratio from a mean of 0.76 to 0.54 (P < 0.01). In 3 poor metabolisers of proguanil, cimetidine had no effect on the proguanil metabolic ratio. CONCLUSION: The concomitant administration of omeprazole or cimetidine will not result in phenocopying extensive metabolisers of proguanil, although cimetidine inhibits the formation of cycloguanil in extensive metabolisers.

Adult↗

Atovaquone-proguanil for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria.

OBJECTIVE: To review the currently available information on atovaquone-proguanil for treatment and prophylaxis of malaria. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was conducted from 1966 to February 2003 using key phrases Malarone, atovaquone, proguanil, and malaria. Further articles were identified from a manual search of the references of identified articles. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: English-language studies with animal and human data evaluating preclinical pharmacology, human studies on pharmacokinetics, and clinical trials were evaluated. Relevant data were extracted from identified articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: Atovaquone-proguanil has been evaluated for treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in 8 clinical trials. In these studies, treatment with atovaquone-proguanil led to a higher (87-100% vs. 72-88%) or equally effective (94-100% vs. 90-100%) cure rate than the comparator antimalarial agents. Atovaquone-proguanil has been evaluated for prophylaxis of malaria in 6 clinical trials. In the 4 placebo-controlled trials for semi-immune residents or nonimmune migrants, the prophylaxis success rates in the atovaquone-proguanil and placebo arms ranged from 98% to 100% and 48% to 82%, respectively. The prophylaxis with success rates were similar among the 2 arms when atovaquone-proguanil was compared with other antimalarial regimens in nonimmune travelers. Atovaquone-proguanil was well tolerated in these clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS: Atovaquone-proguanil is a safe and effective alternative to current recommended regimens for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria.

Antimalarials↗

Single dose pharmacokinetics of proguanil and its metabolites in pregnancy.

Plasma and whole blood concentrations of proguanil, its active metabolite cycloguanil, and the inactive metabolite 4-chlorophenyl-biguanide, were measured by HPLC in 10 healthy Karen women in the last trimester of pregnancy, following a 200 mg single oral dose of proguanil. Four of these women were restudied 2 months after delivery. The pharmacokinetic properties of proguanil were similar during and after pregnancy. Median peak plasma concentrations of proguanil during pregnancy and following delivery were 212 and 215 ng.ml-1, and occurred at 4.5 and 5 h, respectively. Mean plasma AUC values for proguanil during and following pregnancy were 94 and 98 ng.h.ml-1.kg-1, respectively. Corresponding whole blood AUC values were 361 and 396 ng.h.ml-1.kg-1. The mean elimination half lives and mean residence times of proguanil in plasma and whole blood were 12.3 and 19.6 h and 13.8 and 20.7 h respectively during pregnancy. Following pregnancy these values were 17.1 and 19.7 h for plasma and 19.7 h and 20.2 h for whole blood respectively. Mean peak plasma and whole blood concentrations of cycloguanil following pregnancy were 25 and 22 ng.ml-1 respectively. During pregnancy peak cycloguanil concentrations in both plasma and whole blood were markedly lower, 13 and 12 ng ml-1, respectively. Two pregnant women (neither of whom were restudied) were probably poor metabolisers of proguanil. The mean ratio of proguanil to cycloguanil plasma AUC was 16.7 in the third trimester of pregnancy and 7.8 following pregnancy, compared with less than 5 in previously reported studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biguanides↗

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of atovaquone and proguanil for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in third-trimester pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of the recommended 3-day treatment regimen of Malarone in third-trimester pregnant women with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria. METHODS: Twenty-six pregnant women in their third trimester (gestational age: 24-34 weeks) with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria who fulfilled the enrollment criteria were recruited from the antenatal clinics of Mae Sot Hospital, Tak Province, Thailand, (n = 8) and the Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia (n = 18). Patients were treated with four Malarone tablets (GlaxoSmithKline: each tablet contains 250 mg atovaquone and 100 mg proguanil) once daily for 3 consecutive days. Blood samples were taken for pharmacokinetic investigations of atovaquone, proguanil, and cycloguanil up to 288 h (day 14) after the last dose. Urine samples were collected for the evaluation of proguanil and cycloguanil 0-8, 8-16, 16-24 and 24-48 h after the last dose. Efficacy assessments included the clinical and parasitological evaluation of mothers and newborns. Adverse events were evaluated at each visit to the antenatal clinics. RESULTS: Malarone appeared to be effective and well tolerated when used for the treatment of falciparum malaria in pregnant women. All patients showed prompt clinical improvement and the disappearance of parasitaemia after treatment. There were no serious adverse effects or unexpected adverse effects and no stillbirths or spontaneous abortions. The plasma concentration-time profiles of atovaquone and proguanil in most cases were best characterised by the two-compartment open model with zero-order input with/without absorption lag time and first-order elimination. There were no significant differences in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters of atovaquone, proguanil or cycloguanil between patients from Thailand and Zambia. For atovaquone, a Cmax of 1.33-8.33 microg/ml was reached at 2.0-9.3 h after the last dose on day 2. V/F, CL/F and t(1/2beta) were 6.9-39.5 l/kg, 83-384 ml/h/kg, and 57.8-130.8 h, respectively. The Cmax and t(max) values for proguanil versus cycloguanil were 383-918 versus 0-129 ng/ml and 3.3-8.6 versus 3-12 h, respectively. V/F, CL/F, and t(1/2beta) values for proguanil were 10.7-34.0 l/kg, 431-1,662 ml/h/kg and 11.2-30.3 h. The CL(R-CG), t(1/2z), (CG), proguanil/cycloguanil metabolic ratios, AUC ratios for proguanil to cycloguanil (AUC(PG/CG)) were 107.2-1,001 ml/h/kg, 5-95 ml/h/kg, 7.8-20.7 h, 5-57, and 4.7-20.2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of atovaquone and cycloguanil appeared to be influenced by the pregnancy status, resulting in an decrease in the Cmax and AUC of approximately twofold.

Adolescent↗

Absence of an interaction between artesunate and atovaquone--proguanil.

OBJECTIVE: Atovaquone plus proguanil is a new, well-tolerated and highly effective antimalarial drug. In order to protect it from the development of resistance, it may be deployed in combination with an artemisinin derivative. To investigate whether artesunate affects the pharmacokinetics of atovaquone plus proguanil, and to provide preliminary information regarding the tolerability of the triple drug combination (artesunate plus atovaquone plus proguanil), a cross over study was conducted in adult volunteers. METHODS: Twelve healthy Karen adults were randomised to receive atovaquone-proguanil (1000/400 mg) with or without artesunate (250 mg) and, at least 90 days later, the study was repeated. Blood was sampled over a 10-day period. RESULTS: The three-drug combination was well tolerated. Artesunate did not alter the pharmacokinetic properties of atovaquone and proguanil (maximum plasma concentrations: 13.02 microg/ml and 742 ng/ml; elimination half-lives: 42.2 h and 14.4 h; oral plasma clearance estimates: 90 ml/h/kg and 710 ml/h/kg; and apparent volumes of distribution: 4.9 1/kg and 14.5 1/kg, respectively). There was also no effect of artesunate on the biotransformation of proguanil to cycloguanil. The pharmacokinetic variables were similar to those reported previously for the individual drugs. CONCLUSION: Artesunate does not influence atovaquone or proguanil pharmacokinetics. The triple-drug combination of atovaquone and proguanil and artesunate was well tolerated.

Adult↗

Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of atovaquone and proguanil in children with multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

A trial was conducted in 32 Thai children with uncomplicated multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria to assess the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of atovaquone and proguanil; plasma concentrations of atovaquone, proguanil and its metabolite, cycloguanil, were measured in a subset of 9 children. The children received atovaquone (17 mg/kg/d for 3 d) plus proguanil (7 mg/kg/d for 3 d). Twenty-six children who had only Plasmodium falciparum infection and remained in hospital for 28 d were assessed for drug efficacy. The combination regimen produced a cure rate of 100%. Parasite and fever clearance times were 47 h (range 8-75) and 50 h (range 7-111), respectively. Atovaquone and proguanil were rapidly absorbed, with median time to peak concentrations of 6 h (range 6-24) and 6 h (range 6-12), respectively. Peak concentrations of cycloguanil were achieved between 6 and 12 h (median 6) after administration of proguanil. Mean peak plasma concentration of atovaquone on day 3 was 5.1 micrograms/mL (SD = 2.1). The day 3 mean peak plasma concentration of proguanil was 306 ng/mL (SD = 108) compared with 44.3 ng/mL (SD = 27.3) for cycloguanil. Mean values for the AUC (area under plasma concentration-time curve) were 161.8 micrograms/mL.h (SD = 126.9) for atovaquone, 4646 ng/mL.h (SD = 1226) for proguanil, and 787 ng/mL.h (SD = 397) for cycloguanil. Terminal elimination half-lives of atovaquone, proguanil and cycloguanil were estimated as 31.8 h (SD = 8.9), 14.9 h (SD = 3.3) and 14.6 h (SD = 2.6), respectively. No major adverse effect was attributable to the study drugs. Atovaquone/proguanil combination is safe and highly effective, and should be especially valuable for treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria.

Antimalarials↗

Hepatic cytochrome P450 CYP2C activity in psoriasis: studies using proguanil as a probe compound.

Retinol and proguanil are metabolised by the same family of hepatic cytochrome P450, i.e. CYP2C. We used proguanil as a probe to study CYP2C activity, and by implication retinol metabolism, in psoriasis. In vitro studies showed that retinol competitively inhibited the hepatic metabolism of proguanil to cycloguanil. Proguanil metabolism was assessed in 82 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Following proguanil orally (200 mg), urine was analysed for proguanil and cycloguanil. A proguanil to cycloguanil ratio < 1 signified extensive metabolism and a ratio > 10 poor metabolism. A wider range of ratios was observed in psoriasis than previously reported for normal subjects. The proguanil to cycloguanil ratio was assessed in 10 cases each of know severe and mild psoriasis. Low CYP2C activity was associated with severe psoriasis, poor metaboliser status occurring in 50% of the severe group, but in none of the mild cases, p < 0.01. These findings may indicate differences in retinoid metabolism in psoriasis.

Administration, Oral↗