Proguanil is a medication indicated for prophylaxis and treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It does this by inhibiting the enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase, which is involved in the reproduction of the parasite.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Proguanil inhibits the dihydrofolate reductase of plasmodia and thereby blocks the biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines, which are essential for DNA synthesis and cell multiplication. This leads to failure of nuclear division at the time of schizont formation in erythrocytes and liver.
- Primary indication
- For the causal prevention and suppression of malaria caused by susceptible strains of P. falciparum and other species of Plasmodium found in some geographical areas of the world.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C11H16ClN5 · 253.731 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2001 · United States, 2000
- Also known as
- Chlorguanide · Chloroguanide
- Brand names
Resolves to
Clinical / RWD
Structure
InChIKey
SSOLNOMRVKKSON-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCC(C)NC(=N)NC(=N)NC1=CC=C(Cl)C=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
2Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
Which drugs share a target with Proguanil, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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