New database highlights population gaps in antimalarial pharmacokinetic data

Wouldn’t it be helpful to find that all published information on antimalarial drug exposure was in the one place? The WWARN Pharmacology team has gone one step further and developed a searchable database which summarises all available published literature on antimalarial drug exposure since 1934.

Achieving adequate antimalarial drug concentrations in the blood is an essential step to curing patients of malaria infections. This database collates studies and results from malaria patients and healthy volunteers in which samples were taken for the analysis of drug concentrations, and provides a detailed summary of all available antimalarial pharmacokinetic parameters.

The Pharmacology Publication Database includes details of pharmacokinetic parameters reported in trials/studies and summarises the data by:

• Treatment allocation and regimen
• Sub-populations such as infants, children and pregnant women
• Drug concentration measured
• Sample matrix (e.g. plasma, whole blood, dried blood spots on filter paper)

• Assay method

Using this resource allows researchers to easily see what pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted and compare their results with previous research.

“This database provides researchers with a detailed summary of all available antimalarial pharmacokinetic parameters; it highlights knowledge gaps including limited data in vulnerable populations that carry a high malaria burden - such as infants, malnourished children and pregnant women” says Prof Karen Barnes, WWARN Pharmacology Module Head. “This will help prospective researchers focus on populations and antimalarial drugs/metabolites where there is little or no available pharmacokinetic data.

“It will also enable authors to tease out the most likely explanation for any differences between their results and those from previous studies and to recognize when their results are outliers, which may reflect an error e.g. in units used; contributing to improving the quality of data reporting and interpretation”

Researchers can browse and filter the data on-line or download and save the entire archive or selected sub-sets allowing them to access the information as needed. Instructions on how to use the database are included in the downloadable document.

This is the first iteration of the database. If you have suggestions for improvements to the structure, usability or recommendations on other parameters to include, please email Lesley Workman on pharmacology@wwarn.org.

The WWARN Pharmacology Group is also investigating approaches to optimise dosing of antimalarials in pregnant women and young children using mathematical and statistical modelling techniques, known as population pharmacokinetic modelling. Read about about the Roll Back Malaria Partnership’s latest report regarding the impact of malaria interventions on maternal, newborn and child health.