Improving single-dose tafenoquine to prevent relapses of vivax malaria
Official title: Optimizing the dose of tafenoquine for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Southeast Asia
Funded at University of Oxford · NIH-11176136 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find the best single-dose amount of tafenoquine to prevent relapses of Plasmodium vivax malaria in people in Southeast Asia, including children and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oxford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oxford, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,357,354 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI165321-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176136 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and children in Southeast Asia diagnosed with P. vivax malaria who have normal or near-normal G6PD enzyme activity and are not pregnant would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with G6PD deficiency, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with other contraindications to tafenoquine likely would not be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
Relapsing Plasmodium vivax malaria causes much of the illness in Southeast Asia, and the currently recommended single dose of tafenoquine often fails to stop repeat infections. The team will re-analyze individual participant data from past large trials and conduct dose-finding work in the region to test higher weight-based tafenoquine doses (up to about 14 mg/kg) that have been tolerated before. Everyone will be tested for G6PD activity because tafenoquine can cause dangerous anemia in people with G6PD deficiency, and the research focuses on people with adequate G6PD levels. Participants will be followed for months after treatment to see whether higher doses safely reduce the chance of relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, a single, higher tafenoquine dose could prevent most relapses of vivax malaria, lowering illness, clinic visits, and transmission in affected communities.
How similar studies have gone: Large phase 3 trials showed the current 300 mg dose often failed to prevent relapse, but pooled analyses and prior safety data indicate higher weight-based doses may be more effective and have been tolerated in people with sufficient G6PD activity.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chu, Cindy S — University of Oxford
- Study coordinator: Chu, Cindy S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia to improve outbreak detection
A collaboration to add a malaria-specific digital module to an existing surveillance system in Africa to help detect and respond to outbreaks faster.
-
Cross-sector partnership uses digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia
A US-based team will adapt and test a digital malaria surveillance module in SORMAS to help detect and respond to malaria outbreaks in Ethiopia.
-
Malaria control project in Western Kenya to reduce illness and deaths
A large, multi-year effort in western Kenya will help track malaria spread and test ways to prevent transmission so fewer people get sick or die.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent relapse of vivax malaria in Asia
A study tests the best tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapse in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapses in Asia
A study to find the best single-dose tafenoquine amount to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Severe malaria and brain risk in children
This grant studies how severe malaria in young children can affect brain development and long-term thinking and behavior, with a focus on kids in Uganda.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.