Malaria drug artesunate tested for lung scarring

NCT ID NCT05988463

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Joseph C. Wu Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This early-stage trial tests whether artesunate, a drug used for malaria, is safe for people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease that scars the lungs and makes breathing hard. Fifteen adults with IPF will receive either artesunate capsules or a placebo for 12 weeks, with the dose increasing every 4 weeks. The main goal is to check for side effects and find a safe dose for future studies.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: artesunate
What this could lead to: If safe, this could point toward a new treatment option for IPF, a lung-scarring disease with few therapies.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small phase 1 safety trial with only 15 people. It is not designed to prove effectiveness, and many early drugs fail to show benefit in larger studies.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Cough Dyspnea Fibrosis Hypoxia idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Stanford University
RECRUITING

Stanford, California, 94305, United States

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