Artelinic acid is an experimental drug that is being investigated as a treatment for malaria

Malaria

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...

. It is a semi-synthetic derivative of the natural compound artemisinin

Artemisinin

Artemisinin , also known as Qinghaosu , and its derivatives are a group of drugs that possess the most rapid action of all current drugs against falciparum malaria. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment worldwide for falciparum malaria...

. Artelinic acid has a lower rate of neurotoxicity than the related artemisin derivatives arteether and artemether

Artemether

Artemether is an antimalarial for the treatment of multi-drug resistant strains of falciparum malaria. It is combined with Lumefantrine and sold by Novartis under the brand names Riamet and Co-Artem.-Chemical nature:...

, but is three times more toxic than artesunate

Artesunate

Artesunate is part of the artemisinin group of drugs that treat malaria. It is a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin that is water-soluble and may therefore be given by injection...

. At present, artelinic acid seems unlikely to enter routine clinical use, because it offers no clear benefits over the artemesinins already available (artesunate and artemether). Artelinic acid has not yet been evaluated for use in humans.