Bioavailability of a co-formulated combination of amodiaquine and artesunate under fed and fasted conditions. A randomised, open-label crossover study.

Objectives: To assess the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of the anti-malarial amodiaquine (AQ, CAS 6398-98-7) and artesunate (AS, CAS 182824-33-5) and their active metabolites [desethylamodiaquine (DSA, CAS 81496-81-3) and dihydroartemisinin (DHA, CAS79352-78-6), respectively] in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In an open, two-way crossover study, 22 healthy male volunteers fasted overnight and were randomised to receive a single oral administration of 4 tablets of a fixed-dose combination containing 135 mg AQ and 50 mg AS in the absence or presence of a standardised high-fat breakfast, administered 30 min before drug administration. Blood samples were collected up to Day 10 and AQ, DSA, AS and DHA were assayed by an LC/MS/MS method.