What is "primaquine"

n. A medication used in the treatment of malaria and ''Pneumocystis'' pneumonia.

n. synthetic antimalarial drug

Primaquine (or primaquine phosphate) is a medication used in the treatment of malaria and Pneumocystis pneumonia. It is a member of the 8-aminoquinoline group of drugs that includes tafenoquine and pamaquine.

Primaquine was first synthesised by Robert Elderfield of Columbia University in the 1940s. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.