60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (60P) and its Australian distribution partner Biocelect Pty Ltd, began commercialising the new malaria prevention medicine, Kodatef® (tafenoquine succinate). The two organisations announced that the first shipments of Kodatef have arrived and are now available to customers in Australia.

In September 2018, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Kodatef for the prevention of malaria in adults 18 years of age and above for up to 6 months of continuous dosing. The approval marked the first time in more than 20 years that the TGA had approved a new drug for the prevention of malaria. Malaria remains widespread in many countries, including Australia’s near neighbors.

Doug Loock, Vice President of Global Commercial Operations at 60 Degrees Pharma said, “The first shipments of Kodatef into the Australian market represent an exciting and important milestone for 60P and our partner, Biocelect. We know that the threat of malaria is growing in a number of areas around the globe. It is gratifying to be part of the effort to protect individuals from this life-threatening disease when they are travelling to malaria endemic areas. We look forward to continuing to build on today’s success.”

Karl Herz, Managing Director of Biocelect said, “In Kodatef, the travel medicine community now has an antimalarial option that provides protection in all of the malaria endemic zones. We remain committed to serving the Australian travel market with new and exciting products and today we took our first step to doing so.”

60P plans to launch a similar product under a different brand name in the United States during summer 2019.