Artesunate is a medication used to treat malaria. It is a derivative of artemisinin, a compound found in the plant Artemisia annua. Artesunate has been shown to be highly effective in treating malaria, particularly in combination with other antimalarial drugs.

According to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases [3], artesunate has been shown to be more effective than quinine, which was previously the standard treatment for severe malaria. The study found that patients treated with artesunate had a significantly lower mortality rate than those treated with quinine. Additionally, artesunate was found to be more effective at reducing the number of parasites in the blood than quinine.

Another study published in the Journal of Global Infectious Diseases [2] found that artesunate was effective in treating uncomplicated malaria in children. The study compared the efficacy of artesunate with that of chloroquine, which was previously the first-line treatment for malaria. The study found that artesunate was more effective at clearing the parasites from the blood and reducing fever.

According to DrugPatentWatch [1], artesunate is currently patented and is only available as a brand-name medication. However, generic versions of artesunate are available in some countries.

In conclusion, artesunate has been shown to be highly effective in treating malaria, particularly when used in combination with other antimalarial drugs. It has been found to be more effective than previous standard treatments such as quinine and chloroquine. However, it is important to note that resistance to artesunate has been reported in some areas, highlighting the need for continued research and development of new antimalarial drugs.

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/ARTESUNATE
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6532684/
[3] https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/37/1/7/474970