Piperaquine + pyronaridine

Piperaquine + pyronaridine

Product development
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Patient exploratory
Shin Poong
Causal prophylaxis
Intermittent preventative treatment (TPP-1)
Chemoprophylaxis (TPP-2)
Product vision
  • Malaria chemoprevention in pregnant women and children
MOA
  • Piperaquine: unknown MoA, but likely mirrors that of chloroquine, which binds to toxic haem within the malaria parasite, preventing its detoxification via a polymerisation step 
  • Pyronaridine: pleotropic effect including inhibition of hematin formation, and haem degradation. Interferes with the digestive system of the parasite by modifying food vacuoles

Key features
  • High tolerability, good safety profile, anticipated comparatively long duration of protection & low risk of emergence of resistance, no teratogenic liabilities
Challenges
  • Demonstration of increased bioavailability and minimal impact of food on pharmacokinetic exposure of dispersible piperaquine granule formulation
  • Demonstration of safety/tolerability and efficacy of single dose monthly administration, in preventing and clearing malaria infections
Status
  • Combination safety phase I study in healthy volunteers completed
Next milestone
  • Dispersible piperaquine granule formulation relative bioavailability and food effect in healthy volunteers study start
  • Initiate phase II to characterize the safety/tolerability and efficacy of single dose monthly administration in healthy and asymptomatic non-pregnant women
Project Director
  • Dr Isabelle Borghini Fuhrer