Table 1.

Median (range) and mean (95% CI)^a,^b pharmacokinetic variables for oral administration of artesunate and artemether. Bioassay in DHA equivalents, except molar doses.

Variable	Artesunatec	Artemetherc	P
Molar dose (nmol kg−1)a	10 539 (10 146–10 932)	13 578 (13 071–14 085)	< 0.0001
tlag (h)	0.25 (0.25)	0.25 (0.25–1.50)	0.06
tmax (h)	1.50 (0.50–4.00)	2.0 (0.75–6.00)	0.57
Cmax (nmol l−1)	8088 (4568–24 633)	3454 (909–4663)	0.006
t½ (h)	1.31 (0.55–4.71)	2.98 (1.22–5.44)	0.028
λz (h−1)	0.574 (0.147–1.263)	0.236 (0.127–0.568)	0.009
AUC(0,∞) (nmol l−1 h)b	18 867 (16 146–21 588)	11 129 (9007–13 251)	0.020
Vz/F (l kg−1)	1.31 (0.34–5.59)	4.37 (1.73–13.85)	0.004
CL/F (l kg−1 h−1)	0.65 (0.27–1.57)	1.28 (0.69–2.55)	0.004
MRT (h)	2.52 (1.18–5.11)	3.97 (0.58–6.31)	0.019

Abbreviations: C_max (maximum observed concentration); t_max (observed time to C_max); t_lag (absorption lag time); t_½ (elimination half-life); λ_z (elimination rate constant); V_z/F (total apparent volume of distribution kg⁻¹ body weight); MRT (mean residence time); CL/F (clearance kg⁻¹ body weight); AUC(0, ∞) (area under the antimalarial activity – time curve extrapolated to infinity).

^aDifference between the means (95% CI) = 3039 (2896, 3182) nmol kg⁻¹

^bDifference between the means (95% CI) = 7738 (3568, 11908) h nmol l⁻¹

^cTo convert DHA equivalents nmol l⁻¹ to ng ml⁻¹ divide by 3.517.