Krintafel (tafenoquine) / GSK, Medicines for Malaria Venture, 60° Pharma - LARVOL DELTA

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC-UV Assay for Quantification of Tafenoquine Succinate in a Novel Paediatric Antimalarial Formulation. (PubMed, Biomed Chromatogr) - "Forced degradation showed tafenoquine's susceptibility to acidic (29.33%), basic (18.83%), photolytic (complete degradation by day 14), and oxidative (8.33%) stress, with complete chromatographic separation from degradation products. This robust, rapid and low-cost assay is suitable for routine content and stability testing, is adaptable to other tafenoquine formulations and can be further applied to clinical settings."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Pediatrics

Repurposing the USFDA-approved small molecules for their affinity against the colchicine binding site (CBS) in the tubulin: Corroborating the in-silico findings through biological assessment. (PubMed, Bioorg Med Chem) - "Tafenoquine was found to exert broad-spectrum antiproliferative effects, with greatest potency against MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀ = 4.75 ± 0.18 μM), a model for aggressive and treatment-resistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Considering the tubulin polymerization assay, the identified hit was found to inhibit microtubule assembly (low Vmax) in a manner similar to colchicine, and exhibited a similar G2/M arrest, indicating a mode of inhibition similar to that of colchicine."

FDA event • Journal • Breast Cancer • Colon Cancer • Infectious Disease • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Tafenoquine lactation pharmacokinetics: a pilot study. (PubMed, Malar J) - "This pilot study demonstrated measurable tafenoquine in breastmilk, with very small amounts of drug passing to babies on any given day but overall estimated RIDs around the conventional 10% threshold for safety concerns. Further studies are needed to determine with greater certainty the excretion of tafenoquine in breastmilk and drug concentrations in infant blood to inform recommendations for breastfeeding women."

Journal • PK/PD data • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria

TQ-BA-2024-1: Oral Tafenoquine Plus Standard of Care Versus Placebo Plus Standard of Care for Babesiosis (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=33 | Recruiting | Sponsor: 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals LLC | Trial completion date: Jul 2025 ➔ Jul 2027 | Trial primary completion date: Mar 2025 ➔ Mar 2027

Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date

TQ-BA-2024-3: B-FREE Chronic Babesiosis Study (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2 | N=40 | Recruiting | Sponsor: 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals LLC | Not yet recruiting ➔ Recruiting

Enrollment open • Fatigue

Effectiveness of tafenoquine and primaquine for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax: a meeting report from dissemination of results of the EFFORT trial to stakeholders in Pakistan. (PubMed, Malar J) - "The meeting brought together national and provincial stakeholders to review study results and explore implications for radical cure policy and implementation in Pakistan. Key themes included policy alignment, phased implementation of tafenoquine and G6PD testing, planning and funding constraints, private sector engagement, and the importance of sustained dialogue between researchers and malaria program leaders."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Malaria

Mechanisms of Primaquine Induced Hemolysis in a Novel Humanized Murine Model of Mediterranean G6PD Deficiency (ASH 2023) - "vivax) (i.e. primaquine and tafenoquine) are contraindicated in G6PDd patients due to risks of hemolysis. Recombinant hG6PD(MED) enzyme had a 2.6-fold lower specific activity compared to hG6PD(ND). Thermal gradient crosslinking proteomics identified specific amino acid spacing (less than 26 angstroms) that was higher in hG6PD(ND) [82-95 and 91-432] vs. higher in hG6PD(MED) [89-205, 97-429, and 429-497]."

Preclinical • Hematological Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • G6PD • GAPDH

ANALYSIS OF ADHERENCE AND ADVERSE EVENTS TO ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS IN REMOTE AND HARD-TO-REACH POPULATION: A PROPOSAL FROM THE CUREMA PROJECT (ASTMH 2025) - "One of the key elements of the intervention is targeted drug administration against P. vivax (PvTDA) for individuals identified as potential asymptomatic carriers, based on the administration of chloroquine (3 days) combined with primaquine (7 days) or tafenoquine (single dose). The combination of several follow-up methods, tailored to the population profile, is an essential factor. The growing spread of satellite connections in the most remote regions of the Amazon is an important ally for health actions."

Adherence • Adverse events • Clinical • Late-breaking abstract • Cardiovascular • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria

Results of the CUREMA project: levers and obstacles to the Reach and Effectiveness of a complex intervention aimed at eliminating malaria in a mobile and hard-to-reach population in the Amazon (ASTMH 2025) - "The administration of PvTDA (chloroquine combined with primaquine or tafenoquine) was conditioned by the analysis of epidemiological eligibility criteria and the exclusion of contraindications to treatment (such as G6PD deficiency, pregnancy and relevant clinical antecedents). A post-intervention cross-sectional survey (conducted between December 2024 and April 2025) along with a qualitative evaluation (from November 2024 to May 2025) will generate data regarding the intervention coverage and identify key factors influencing its feasibility, acceptability and sustainability, as well as the evolution of the prevalence of malaria before and after the intervention. Findings from CUREMA will provide critical insights for malaria elimination strategies targeting mobile and hard-to-reach populations, particularly for the fight against P. vivax transmission in the Americas."

Clinical • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

Evaluating the Economic Value of Tafenoquine for P. vivax Malaria: Evidence from the PAVE-Peru Implementation Study (ASTMH 2025) - "As part of this effort, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the revised strategy—tafenoquine (TQ) or 7-day primaquine (PQ7) guided by quantitative G6PD testing—to Peru's standard of care, solely based on PQ7 without G6PD testing. Threshold analysis showed that the revised strategy remains cost-effective even with substantial increases in TQ-related costs, highlighting robustness and accounting for potential importation, distribution, or implementation costs that may arise during national scale-up. These findings provide robust economic evidence to support national decision-making for scaling up G6PD-guided radical cure under Peru's National Malaria Elimination Plan."

Infectious Disease • Malaria

Perceptions of Shorter Radical Cure Treatment Regimens and their Implementation: A Qualitative Study Among Stakeholders in Cambodia (ASTMH 2025) - "Shorter, more effective, and efficacious treatment options for P. vivax malaria, including high-dose primaquine and single-dose tafenoquine, have recently been approved—dependent on the availability of point-of-care G6PD testing. They requested further evidence about safety and effectiveness. The uptake of a revised policy is likely but will likely require enhanced patient monitoring."

Infectious Disease • Malaria

Perceptions of shorter course radical cure treatment among vivax malaria stakeholders in Arba Minch, Ethiopia (ASTMH 2025) - P3 | "The acceptability and uptake of short course primaquine and single dose tafenoquine is shaped by stakeholder risk perceptions. These insights highlight the need to integrate local understandings of risk into the design and communication of radical cure strategies. Stakeholder risk perceptions are central to the acceptability and uptake of shortened radical cure regimens and have key implications for policy and implementation in vivax-endemic settings."

Infectious Disease • Malaria

Implementation of Tafenoquine for the radical cure of vivax malaria in priority municipalities in Brazil in 2024 (ASTMH 2025) - "Preliminary results indicate that treatment is being carried out adequately and gradually, with high adherence by trained professionals. It is suggested that the use of tafenoquine for the radical cure of vivax malaria be expanded throughout Brazil in a sustained and monitored manner."

Infectious Disease • Malaria

Implementing Tafenoquine-Based Radical Cure for P. vivax Malaria in Peru: Results from the PAVE-Peru Study (ASTMH 2025) - "The PAVE-Peru implementation study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and adherence to a revised case management algorithm incorporating SD Biosensor point-of-care semi-quantitative glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) testing and radical cure (RC) with chloroquine and tafenoquine (TQ) or primaquine (PQ). These findings support the feasibility of scaling a G6PD-guided RC strategy and will inform national policy to optimize P. vivax malaria management in endemic regions. Full results will be shared at the 2025 ASTMH Annual Meeting."

Anemia • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria

Community-based health workers critical in implementation of a revised Plasmodium vivax case management package in Papua New Guinea. (ASTMH 2025) - "For decades, the effective control of Plasmodium vivax malaria has been hindered by using low-dose and long duration primaquine (PQ) treatment. Single-dose tafenoquine or shorter-duration, higher daily-dose PQ can overcome this challenge but both are associated with risk of hemolysis in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency...Additionally, insights from focus group discussions about implementation and sustainability will be shared. Due to significant human resource constraints in the PNG health sector, utilizing CbHWs was prioritised by Provincial Health Authorities and this study will provide further insights into the feasibility of introducing more community-oriented volunteer programs in the country to aid health programs at the provincial level."

Clinical • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

The National Roll-out of tafenoquine in the Brazilian Amazon: Lessons Learned (ASTMH 2025) - No abstract available

57 - Evidence to Guide the Implementation of Effective P. vivax Radical Cure (ASTMH 2025) - "However, the only available hypnozoiticidal drugs, primaquine (PQ) and tafenoquine (TQ), can cause severe hemolysis in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, making G6PD testing a critical prerequisite for treatment...Despite TQ's promise, it is currently only licensed for use with chloroquine...The final presentation will present pooled data on G6PD threshold accuracy, exploring how adjusted thresholds may expand access to radical cure. The session will conclude with a moderated discussion to engage stakeholders in shaping future implementation strategies.#InfectiousDisease#ClinicalResearch#Diagnostics#Therapeutics#Elimination"

CNS Disorders • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders • Psychiatry • Schizophrenia

Tafenoquine and G6PD test implementation in Ethiopia: partial study results (ASTMH 2025) - "The aim of the Partnership for Vivax Elimination Ethiopia study is to assess the operational feasibility of providing appropriate RC, either primaquine (PQ) or tafenoquine (TQ) after glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) testing under routine care. Interim data will inform a decision to expand coverage of the revised treatment algorithm to additional study facilities. This study represents one of the first uses of TQ in Ethiopia outside of a clinical trial setting and will provide evidence on the potential for routine use."

Anemia • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

Prevalence and geographical distribution of G6PD deficiency in Papua New Guinea (ASTMH 2025) - "An effective dose of an 8-aminoquinoline (primaquine or tafenoquine) is required, however individuals with G6PD deficiency are at increased risk of haemolysis when treated with these drugs. It highlights that point of care quantitative G6PD testing is feasible and that the majority of individuals can safely receive primaquine treatment. It also provides data on the geographical heterogeneity of G6PD deficiency that can be used to help inform health policy and planning in PNG."

Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

Prevalence and risk factors of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among a Plasmodium vivax malaria endemic setting in Peru (ASTMH 2025) - "In an adjusted model among male participants of mestizo descent occupation and district were not associated with G6PD status. G6PD deficiency is rare in this setting in Peru and focal mass drug administration using tafenoquine is anticipated to be safe."

Clinical • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

Comprehensive profiling of ex vivo drug susceptibility of clinical isolates of Plasmodium vivaxin Southeast Asia (ASTMH 2025) - "Fresh P. vivax clinical isolates (N = 997) from six provinces in Cambodia and Thailand from 2019 - 2023 were evaluated using an ex vivo culture growth inhibition assay against a panel of 14 antimalarial drugs: dihydroartemisinin (DHA), artemisinin (AS), mefloquine (MQ), quinine (QN), chloroquine (CQ), doxycycline (DOX), proguanil (PG), atovaquone (ATQ), lumefantrine (LUM), cycloguanil (CYC), tafenoquine (TQ), primaquine (PQ), piperaquine (PPQ) and pyronaridine (PND). This study represents one of the largest systematic efforts to collect ex vivo drug susceptibility data from P. vivax isolates in Southeast Asia. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of carrying out systematic monitoring of P. vivax drug susceptibility and highlight the importance of continued monitoring in the region."

Preclinical • Infectious Disease • Malaria

Prevalence and risk factors of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among a Plasmodium vivax malaria endemic setting in Peru (ASTMH 2025) - "In an adjusted model among male participants of mestizo descent occupation and district were not associated with G6PD status. G6PD deficiency is rare in this setting in Peru and focal mass drug administration using tafenoquine is anticipated to be safe."

Clinical • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

FocaL mass drug administration for Plasmodium vivax malaria elimination (FLAME): study protocol for an open-label cluster randomized controlled trial in Peru. (PubMed, Trials) - P3 | "The trial will generate evidence regarding fMDA for P. vivax and inform malaria elimination efforts in Peru and similarly endemic settings. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and through stakeholder meetings in Peruvian and international research forums."

Clinical protocol • Journal • Hematological Disorders • Infectious Disease • Malaria • Metabolic Disorders

Malária incubada: a mixed methods analysis on knowledge and experiences on Plasmodium vivax and asymptomatic malaria infections in a hard-to-reach and mobile population in the Amazon. (PubMed, Malar J) - P=N/A | "Understanding the interpretation of the disease by affected communities is essential to develop context-specific strategies and for enhancing acceptability and effectiveness of malaria elimination efforts. Trial registration NCT05540470 on clinical trials."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Malaria

Perceptions of shorter radical cure Plasmodium vivax treatment regimens and their implementation: a qualitative study among stakeholders in Cambodia. (PubMed, Malar J) - "Acceptance of 7-day-high-dose primaquine and tafenoquine was high in the pre-elimination context of Cambodia. Based on this study's findings, the uptake of these new treatment options is likely but will require confidence-building through evidence generation for policymakers and enhanced monitoring of adverse events to increase acceptability."

Journal • Infectious Disease • Malaria