From methylene blue to chloroquine: a brief review of the development of an antimalarial therapy

Abstract

Malarial treatment is widely and readily available today. However, there was a time in the not-so-distant past when malaria was a deadly disease with no known cause or cure. In this article, we trace the origins of an antimalarial therapy from the discovery of the nature of the malarial parasite through the development of chloroquine. We dedicate this article to Johann “Hans” Andersag, the scientist who developed chloroquine, on the 110th anniversary of his birth, 16 February 1902.