Artesunate is an antimalarial drug that has been shown to be effective in treating severe malaria cases. However, its effectiveness for prevention is not well established. According to Drug Patent Watch [1], Artesunate is not indicated for the prevention of malaria. The drug is typically used in combination with other antimalarial drugs for the treatment of malaria.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [2] recommends the use of Artesunate as a treatment option for severe malaria cases. The drug is administered intravenously or intramuscularly and is effective in reducing the mortality rate in patients with severe malaria. However, the CDC does not recommend Artesunate for malaria prevention.

A study published in PLOS ONE [3] investigated the effectiveness of Artesunate in preventing malaria. The study found that Artesunate did not provide significant protection against malaria infection in individuals living in a malaria-endemic area. The study concluded that Artesunate should not be used as a stand-alone drug for malaria prevention.

In summary, Artesunate is an effective drug for the treatment of severe malaria cases. However, its effectiveness for malaria prevention is not well established. The drug is not indicated for malaria prevention, and a study found that it did not provide significant protection against malaria infection. Therefore, other antimalarial drugs and preventative measures should be used to prevent malaria.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/ARTESUNATE
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/diagnosis_treatment/artesunate.html
[3] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012223