One Dose Instead of Three Days: A New Malaria Treatment Shows Promise
A single oral dose of cabamiquine combined with pyronaridine cured more than 90% of adults and adolescents with falciparum malaria at day 28 in the CAPTURE-1 trial in Gabon and Uganda, with no serious side effects. Why a one-dose, non-artemisinin cure matters.
By the UISC BD Editorial Desk · United Information Service Center · Published 13 September 2026 · 5-minute read
Most malaria treatments today require several days of tablets. When people feel better after the first dose and stop early, the infection can return — and drug resistance can grow. A treatment that works in one dose would change that.
What the Trial Found
The CAPTURE-1 study, a phase 2a trial published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, tested a single oral dose of two drugs combined — cabamiquine and pyronaridine — in adults and adolescents with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the deadliest form of the disease.
- 38 participants took part in Gabon and Uganda.
- PCR-corrected efficacy at day 28 exceeded 90 percent in both study groups.
- The combination was generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse events or deaths.
Why It Is Different
A new target. Cabamiquine is a first-in-class drug that blocks a parasite protein called PfeEF2 — elongation factor 2 — which no currently approved antimalarial medicine targets. Attacking the parasite in a new way matters because resistance develops against familiar mechanisms.
No artemisinin. Today's front-line treatments rely on artemisinin-based combinations. A strong non-artemisinin option provides a backup as resistance to existing drugs is monitored.
Two complementary drugs. Pairing two compounds with different mechanisms makes it harder for the parasite to survive treatment.
One dose. A single dose, which can be given under supervision, removes the problem of patients not finishing a course.
Where It Came From
Cabamiquine was discovered by the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee in Scotland. The CAPTURE-1 work was supported through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership.
What Comes Next
This was a small, early-stage proof-of-concept study. The researchers say the results support larger trials and studies in children, who bear the heaviest burden of malaria. Several more years of testing and regulatory review lie ahead before any patient could receive it routinely.
Why This Is Good News
New malaria medicines are rare, and ones that could simplify treatment to a single dose are rarer still. Early results like these keep the drug pipeline moving — essential for staying ahead of a parasite that has adapted to drugs before.
More positive health research this month: a new FDA-cleared Alzheimer's blood test and what new gut microbiome studies are showing.
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Sources
- "Safety, pharmacokinetics, and antimalarial efficacy of single-dose cabamiquine–pyronaridine combination therapy (CAPTURE 1)," The Lancet Infectious Diseases — thelancet.com
- "CAPTURE-1 study advances development of a novel single-dose malaria treatment," EDCTP — edctp.org
- "Antimalarial compound discovered at Dundee has potential to simplify malaria medicines," University of Dundee — dundee.ac.uk
- "Antimalarial compound hailed as 'exciting step forward' in fight against disease," ITV News — itv.com
