US FDA approves first drug for P. vivax treatment in over 50 years

The US FDA has approved, under Priority Review, single-dose Krintafel (tafenoquine) for the prevention of relapse in Plasmodium vivax infections, the first approval for such a malaria drug in over 50 years.

The therapy, which has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK; Brentford, UK) and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV; Geneva, Switzerland), is approved for patients aged over 16 years who are receiving appropriate antimalarial therapy for acute P. vivax infection.