[A new antimalarial on the market: halofantrine. Various observations]

To face the geographical extension of chloroquine resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and the extant of multiple drug resistant strains (with sometimes a loss of quinine sensitivity), a new antimalarial drug which comes on to the market is wellcome. Halofantrine, a phenanthren methanol, licensed as Halfan has been authorized for sell in France in 1988 and is also available in four countries of Tropical Africa: Ivory Coast, Togo, Congo and Zaïre. The current prescription of Halfan is the treatment of acute attacks of P. falciparum in areas where chloroquine resistant strains occur. Halfan is only available under oral form (tablets and drinkable solution). Its clinical and biological tolerability is good.