AQ-13 - an investigational antimalarial drug

ABSTRACT

Introduction: AQ-13 is a drug candidate in development for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections. The chemical structure is similar to chloroquine, a 4-aminoquinoline, with a shorter diaminoalkane side chain. Chloroquine has been the standard of care for P.falciparum malaria for more than 40 years, but the spread of resistant parasites in all malaria endemic regions has led to abandonment of the drug. The outstanding attribute of AQ-13 is its retrieval of activity against chloroquine-resistant P.falciparum.

Areas covered: We review preclinical and clinical studies on AQ-13 and summarize findings on pharmacokinetic, safety, potency and efficacy.

Expert opinion: Based on its properties invivo, the most likely future indication of AQ-13 could be case management of uncomplicated falciparum malaria – as a partner drug in a combination therapy. Several 4-aminoquinolines combined with a partner drug are on the market and in development. The outstanding properties of AQ-13 should be identified to direct further clinical development.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00323375.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01614964.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02497612.

KEYWORDS:

• AQ-13
• 4-aminoquinoline
• chloroquine
• resistance
• Plasmodium falciparum
• Plasmodium vivax
• malaria
• clinical development

Box 1. Drug summary

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The paper was funded by an internship paid by the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen (IGIM fellowship) and Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) [03VP00402].