Persistent Pursuit in Research of Artemisinin: Fast Elimination of Malaria Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of Project 523 / 广州中医药大学学报

ABSTRACT

At the 50th Anniversary of Project 523,we reviewed the course and progress made by the Artemisinin Anti-malaria Research Group of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in the application of artemisinin for treating malaria.As one of the groups participating in the mission of Project 523,Artemisinin Anti-malaria Research Group of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine was in charge of the clinical trials in treating malaria with artemisinin and its derivatives of various preparation forms,dosages and treatment courses(years 1974-1989),developed the artemisinin-based combinations(ACTs) Artekin and Artequick for malaria treatment and performed their clinical trials(years 1984-2006).For the recent 10 years,the group has been devoted in the implementation of anti-malaria programme FEMSE (Fast Elimination of Malaria by Source Eradication) in south-east Asia and Africa.The scientific explorations and achievements of this research group have made great contribution in bringing artemisinins to the world and creating a simple,practical and cost-effective new method for rapid global malaria elimination.