Objective Artemisinin based antimalarial drug combinations are recommended for the treatment of P.falciparum malaria infections throughout all malarial endemic areas of the world and in all populations, including women of child bearing age. The studies planned in this collaborative project are central to assessing the potential hazard posed by these drugs to the developing human foetus and thereby making evidence based recommendations on the risk:benefit of these drugs. Although clinical experience to date indicates the artemisinins to be safe, the area of reproductive toxicology demands special consideration. Data from the Chinese literature and our own studies confirm that the artemisinins are embryotoxic and potentially teratogenic in animal species at drug doses within the human therapeutic range. Based on over ten years of investigating the pharmacology of these drugs we have developed a hypothesis which can explain these teratogenic effects. Our hypothesis is based on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from cleavage of the artemisinin peroxide bridge and consequent embryofoetal damage to key biological macromolecules. Our hypothesis draws on parallels with the metabolic activation and teratogenic effects of the other established teratogens such as phenytoin Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesmalariamedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologypathophysiologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineobstetricsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinetoxicologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacy Keywords artemisinin embryotoxicity health policy malaria pregnancy risk:benefit teratogenicity Programme(s) FP7-HEALTH - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Health Topic(s) HEALTH-2007-2.3.2-4 - Addressing knowledge gaps in pregnancy malaria Call for proposal FP7-HEALTH-2007-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE EU contribution € 733 480,00 Address PEMBROKE PLACE L35QA LIVERPOOL 3 United Kingdom See on map Region North West (England) Merseyside Liverpool Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Stephen Ward (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL United Kingdom EU contribution € 384 880,00 Address BROWNLOW HILL 765 FOUNDATION BUILDING L69 7ZX Liverpool See on map Region North West (England) Merseyside Liverpool Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Veronica Cannings (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE Portugal EU contribution € 194 680,00 Address CAMPUS DE PENHA 8005 139 Faro See on map Region Continente Algarve Algarve Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Maria De Lurdes Cristiano (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN Netherlands EU contribution € 402 880,00 Address RAPENBURG 70 2311 EZ Leiden See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Agglomeratie Leiden en Bollenstreek Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ton Bouw Er (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution € 186 880,00 Address VASAPARKEN 405 30 Goeteborg See on map Region Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Michael Ashton (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Switzerland EU contribution € 46 080,00 Address Avenue Appia 20 1211 Geneve See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Genève Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Piero Olliaro (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
