Halofantrine microbiology

Halofantrine
HALFAN® FDA Package Insert
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
Microbiology
Indications and Usage
Contraindications
Warnings and Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Drug Interactions
Overdosage
Dosage and Administration
How Supplied

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Microbiology

Halofantrine is a blood schizonticidal antimalarial agent with no apparent action on the sporozoite, gametocyte or hepatic stages of the infection. The exact mechanism of its action is unknown. The primary metabolite, n-desbutyl halofantrine, and the parent compound are equally active in vitro.

While in vitro studies indicate that there may be cross-resistance between halofantrine and mefloquine, the clinical data do not support this view. No significant correlation between halofantrine and mefloquine resistance was observed in clinical trials.

Clinical Trials

In controlled clinical trials involving 90 non-immune patients with malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, treatment with Halfan (500 mg every 6 hours for three doses on days 0 and 7) had a cure rate of 99%. Patients were followed for 28 days or more after initiation of treatment.

In trials involving 583 acute malaria patients, the majority of whom were semi-immune, treatment with Halfan (500 mg every 6 hours for three doses) produced a cure rate of 90% against Plasmodium falciparum infection (n=512), and a cure rate of 99% against Plasmodium vivax (n=71).

References

Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.