Miltefosine

Miltefosine (INN, trade names Impavido and Miltex) is an antiprotozoal drug. Originally developed as an antineoplastic, it is finding use as an antiprotozoal drug. It can be administered orally and intravenously.

Current antiprotozoal and antifungal applications
Leishmania: Miltefosine is registered and used by Zentaris GmbH in India, Colombia and Germany for the treatment of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, and is undergoing clinical trials for this use in several other countries, such as Brazil and Guatemala. It is currently the only effective oral treatment for leishmaniasis.

Miltefosine is one of the few orally administered drugs that is effective against Leishmania

Investigatory antiprotozoal and antifungal usage
Miltefosine is being investigated by researchers interested in finding treatments for infections which have become resistant to existing drugs. Animal and in-vitro studies suggest it may have broad anti-protozoal and anti-fungal properties:


 * Animal studies suggest miltefosine may also be effective against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas' disease.


 * Several studies have found the drug to be effective against Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida, Aspergillus and Fusarium.


 * An in-vitro study found that Miltefosine is effective against metronidazole-resistant variants of Trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted protozoal disease.


 * Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a compound structurally similar to miltefosine, was recently found to exhibit potent in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum.

Side effects
The main side effects reported with miltefosine treatment are nausea and vomiting. Miltefosine has exhibited teratogenicity, and should not be administered to pregnant women.