Addressing an increasing global health risk

Babesia are tick-transmitted protozoan parasites that infect mammals. Human babesiosis, also transmitted by blood transfusion, is an increasing global public health risk.¹

Symptoms of Babesia infection include the presence of fever, fatigue and malaise, followed by anemia, hemoglobinuria, anorexia, emaciation, and vomiting. The acute hemolytic phase of severe infection can result in death in immunosuppressed people.¹

Recovery from babesiosis utilizing existing drugs may take months or years in immunosuppressed patients. Case reports suggest tafenoquine at doses approved by FDA for malaria may address this problem.^2,3*

*ARAKODA has not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19, babesiosis, dengue, or fungal diseases.

References: 1. Vannier EG, Diuk-Wasser MA, Ben Mamoun C, Krause PJ. Babesiosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;29(2):357-70. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.008. 2. Rogers R, Krause PJ, Norris AM, et al. Broad antimicrobial resistance in a case of relapsing babesiosis successfully treated with tafenoquine. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Jun 10:ciac473. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac473. 3. Liu M, Ji S, Kondoh D, et al. Tafenoquine Is a Promising Drug Candidate for the Treatment of Babesiosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Jun 17;65(7):e0020421. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00204-21.