GSK and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) today presented positive data from the TEACH study of tafenoquine, an 8-aminoquinoline, for the prevention of relapse (radical cure) of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria in children and adolescents.

The results of the Tafenoquine Exposure Assessment in Children (TEACH) study were presented during the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2020 virtual annual meeting.

TEACH evaluated dosages of tafenoquine based on the weight in children and adolescents between the age of 6 months and up to 15 years. The safety profile was consistent with previous clinical studies with the exception of early post-dose vomiting. Ninety-five percent of the study’s 60 subjects had no recurrence of P. vivax malaria during four months of follow-up.

The current standard of care for prevention of P. vivax relapse requires a 7- or 14-day course of treatment and at present there is no age-specific pediatric formulation. Tafenoquine is a single dose treatment for radical cure and is already licensed in people aged 16 and older. TEACH investigated the use of a novel 50 mg dispersible tablet, which was developed to facilitate use in children. The study also used the approved 150 mg tablet.