ATC Malachlorite® for treatment of patients with acute Plasmodium falciparum infection: A pilot study incorporating 500 patients in the rural area of Cameroon

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most widespread infectious diseases with over 2 million deaths per year in Central Africa. Since new drug combinations are characterized by the development of tolerance as well as serious side effect there is an increasing demand for a new medication. We therefore set out to study the efficacy of a sublingual tablet with a new mode of action consisting of sodium chlorite (NaClO2) plus citric acid and an artimisin extract. By adding sodium bicarbonate, an effervescent composition is attained, which when being exposed to saline, chlorine dioxide (ClO2) the active ingredient is being released. Being a potent oxygen radical, it attaches to the layer of a trophozoite resulting in the disintegration and its demise. This reaction is terminated within one hour and ClO2 dissolves into the two end products, sodium chloride (table salt) and water. Following informed consent 500 patients (240 male, 260 female mean age 27 +/-19 SD) within the rural area of Cameroon and demonstrating acute symptoms of malaria infection, were given 5 sublingual tablets of ACT Malachlorite® 3 times per day at an 8 hour interval. The medication was able to reverse acute symptoms of malaria within the first 2 days. Using thick blood films, trophozoite count under the microscope demonstrated a highly significant reduction (p < 0.001) of count of Plasmodium falciparum. From a mean of 6430 (+/-816 SD) trophozoites per mm3, prarasitemia dropped to a mean of 4932 (+/-842 SD) on day two and further declined to 1454 (+/-401 SD; p < 0.001) on day four. No trophozoites could be detected in the blood on day six. Side effects were reported from the intestinal tract consisting of bloating and cramping while the majority of patients complained of the pungent chlorine taste as being unpleasant. The new ATC Malachlorite® tablet presents a promising new approach in malaria treatment with a different mode of action than all present antimalarial agents.