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Artemether

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Artemether

What it is

Artemether is an oil-soluble derivative of artemisinin, from the sweet wormwood plant, that kills malaria parasites very quickly. It is combined with lumefantrine in Coartem (Riamet), one of the most used treatments for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, and was used by injection for severe malaria.

How genes come into it

Artemether is converted mainly by CYP3A4, with help from CYP2B6, into dihydroartemisinin, also active. The gene studies listed looked at CYP2B6 and CYP3A5, partly in people also taking HIV medicines that speed up or slow down these enzymes. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Artemether. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (1 rated variant)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

CYP2B6 CYP2B6*1, CYP2B6*6: Level 3. Metabolism/PK. 1.

Metabolism (2 findings)

Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.

CYP2B6 CYP2B6*1, CYP2B6*6: CYP2B6 *6/*6 is associated with decreased metabolism of artemether in healthy individuals as compared to CYP2B6 *1/*1.

CYP3A5 CYP3A5*1, CYP3A5*3, CYP3A5*6, CYP3A5*7: CYP3A5 *1/*3 + *1/*6 + *1/*7 is not associated with decreased concentrations of artemether or dihydroartemisinin in people with Malaria, Falciparum as compared to CYP3A5 *1/*1.

Response (1 finding)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

CYP2B6 rs3745274: Genotype GT is associated with decreased clinical benefit to artemether and lumefantrine in people with Malaria as compared to genotypes GG + TT.

Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Artesunate (Antimalarials)

Chloroquine (Antimalarials)

Daraprim (Antimalarials)

Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.

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Content updated September 2026.

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