What it is
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPQ) is an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) used to treat uncomplicated malaria. It combines two complementary medicines:
- Dihydroartemisinin, a fast-acting antimalarial that quickly clears parasites from the bloodstream.
- Piperaquine, a long-acting partner drug that eliminates residual parasites and protects against reinfection for several weeks after treatment.
This combination provides a simple three-day regimen that is highly effective and reduces the risk of recurrent infections.
Why it matters
Malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, particularly among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is still a leading cause of child mortality.[1] When uncomplicated malaria is left untreated or inadequately treated, it can rapidly progress to severe disease and death.
DHAPQ helps address critical gaps in malaria treatment by providing a well-tolerated, easy-to-administer therapy that reduces both treatment failure and reinfection rates. It is suitable for children, who remain among the most vulnerable to malaria.
The story
For years, malaria treatment faced two major challenges: drug resistance and complex dosing regimens that made adherence difficult, especially for children. To overcome these, researchers developed DHAPQ as a fixed-dose combination, ensuring that patients receive the correct ratio of both drugs with each dose.
Supported by extensive clinical trials, DHAPQ demonstrated high efficacy and excellent tolerability, outperforming several other ACTs in preventing recurrent infections thanks to its long post-treatment protection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends DHAPQ among the ACTs for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Countries such as Ghana have adopted it as a second-line therapy, where it continues to show efficacy rates above 90% in children under routine use.
Through EDCTP funding, researchers have been able to conduct clinical trials focusing on safety, optimal dosing, and side effects, particularly in vulnerable groups such as young children and people living with HIV.[2],[3] These studies generated essential data that have informed WHO recommendations and strengthened the evidence base for the safe and effective use of DHAPQ.[4]
Today, DHAPQ is widely used across Africa and Asia, is endorsed by the WHO, and is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) under the trade name Eurartesim®. Its integration into national malaria control programmes and consistent clinical success mark it as a cornerstone in the global fight against malaria.
Sources:
[1] Our World in Data, Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria is the leading cause of child mortality in much of Sub-Saharan Africa
[2] EDCTP Association, Malaria treatment – The 4ABC study
[3] EDCTP Association, IMPACT study
[4] A Head-to-Head Comparison of Four Artemisinin-Based Combinations for Treating Uncomplicated Malaria in African Children: A Randomized Trial
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Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPQ) is an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) used to treat uncomplicated malaria.
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