The combination artemether/lumefantrine (trade names Coartem and Riamet) is a fixed-dose combination artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
The individual drugs were both initially developed in China. Artemether is one of the semi-synthetic derivatives of artemisinin, and lumefantrine (also known as benflumetol and CGP 56695 during development) is purely synthetic. The combination is an effective and well-tolerated malaria treatment, providing high cure rates even in areas of multi-drug resistance.
In 2001, Coartem became the first fixed dose artemisinin-based combination therapy to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) pre-qualification criteria for efficacy, safety and quality. In 2002, artemether/lumefantrine tablets were added to the WHO's Essential Medicines list, an index of essential drugs which help guide the purchasing decisions of Member States and UN agencies. Coartem is approved in over 80 countries worldwide, including various countries in Africa, as well as Swissmedic, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Read more about Artemether/lumefantrine: Side Effects, Effect of Food and Interactions, Access To Treatment, Approval in The United States, Coartem Dispersible