Primaquine Shortage

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the antimalarial drug primaquine remains on back order due to manufacturing issues as reported by Sanofi-aventis, the manufacturer of the drug. They are working to resolve the shortage as quickly as possible.

Primaquine is the only drug that can be used to eliminate hypnozoites, the dormant forms of the malaria parasites. Until primaquine is available again. the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends to prevent clinical relapses of Plasmodium vivax and ovale, healthcare providers may choose to maintain persons at risk for relapse on weekly chloroquine prophylaxis. Additionally, during the shortage, primaquine should not be prescribed for primary chemoprophylaxis. This notice will be updated as more information becomes available.

For more information about the shortage of primaquine, see the FDA "What's New (Drugs)" page. For more information about recommended antimalarial drugs by country, see Malaria Endemic Areas by Country. For general information about antimalarial drugs, see Drugs for Prevention.