Combination therapy and its resistance in the development of antimalarial drugs

Abstract

Most cases of malaria, one of the most dangerous and common tropical parasite infections, occur in developing nations. Recent years have seen the emergence of novel treatment techniques, and numerous medication candidates are currently undergoing clinical research. One noteworthy outcome of combining an artemisinin derivative with a companion medication (in this case, mefloquine) using an alternative method of action is that it inhibits the growth of medication resistance and stops the spread of P. falciparum. Resistance to currently available antimalarial drugs is prevalent due to several factors, including the rate of parasite mutation, the total parasite load, the potency of the chosen drug, treatment compliance, inadequate adherence to malaria treatment guidelines, incorrect dosing, poor pharmacokinetic properties, and the use of low-quality antimalarials that may contribute to and exacerbate resistance. There are three types of malaria vaccinations: blood-stage vaccines, erythrocytosis-mimicking vaccines, and vaccines that stop the disease from spreading. This article examines various approaches to creating antimalarial medications in an attempt to solve the problem of drug resistance.