Update to Guidance for use of Artemether-Lumefantrine (Coartem^®) in Pregnancy for Uncomplicated Malaria

CDC now recommends artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem^®) for all trimesters of pregnancy to treat uncomplicated malaria, or as interim treatment for severe malaria prior to intravenous artesunate. This aligns CDC guidance with current WHO guidance for treatment of malaria in pregnancy.

Previously, CDC had recommended the use of artemether-lumefantrine in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy for treatment of malaria.  Then, in Nov 2022, after an extensive review of recent evidence, WHO recommended the use of artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem^®) for all trimesters of pregnancy.

Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem^®) is labeled in the U.S. as a pregnancy category C drug, but this was based on data that was available at the time when it was approved in 2009. Since then, additional data on the safety of artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem^®) in pregnancy have become available.

Further information on treatment of malaria in pregnancy can be found here.

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