Artesunate and Artemisinin-based Drugs: Affordability and access - CancerChoices



Donate
Donate
icon
icon
Find help
Top questions Click or tap to explore common questions to get started ›
Request a volunteer guide Find someone to help you navigate this site ›
Find cancer-specific handbooks
Integrative Cancer Care Handbooks ›
Sign up for email updates
Sign up for e-news updates ›
Top questions

Prescription drugs derived from the Artemisia annua plant show very limited benefit in improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Affordability and access

Prescription required?

  • Artemisinin-derived drugs require a prescription from a licensed physician in the US.

Drugs derived from Artemisia annua

  • 10-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3- triazol)-artemisinin (5a)
  • Arteether
  • Artelinic acid
  • Artemether
  • Artemisone
  • Artesunate
  • Dihydroartemisinin (DHA)

Where to access

Artemisinin-derived drugs are available by prescription in the US for use with patients who have a documented case of severe malaria. Any other use is considered off-label. Artesunate is used widely in European cancer clinics providing complementary therapies.

Find health professionals who use both conventional and complementary approaches, including off-label drugs, in an integrative approach to cancer focusing on your body terrain: Finding Integrative Oncologists and Other Practitioners ›

Affordability 

  • Very expensive (between $2000 US and $50,000 US/year) for a course of treatment for malaria;1Frosch AEP, Ahiskali A, John CC. Unaffordable treatment for severe malaria highlights U.S. drug market pitfalls. Stat. June 11, 2021. Viewed November 22, 2022. the cost for effective cancer treatment could be more.
  • Insurance coverage for cancer treatment is unlikely.

Keep reading about artemisinin-based drugs

Choose what to read next
See all our reviews of complementary therapies

Authors

Andrew Jackson, ND

Research Associate
View profile

Andrew Jackson, ND, serves as a CancerChoices research associate. As a naturopathic physician practicing in Kirkland, Washington, he teaches critical evaluation of the medical literture at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. His great appreciation of scientific inquiry and the scientific process has led him to view research with a critical eye.

Andrew Jackson, ND Research Associate

Nancy Hepp, MS

Lead Researcher
View profile

Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS Lead Researcher

Reviewer

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant
View profile

Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Last update: May 9, 2024

Last full literature review: October 2022

CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.

Learn more

Affordability and Access to Care

Self Care

Therapies

Low-dose Naltrexone

References[+]