FDA pharmacologic class
Antimalarial
6 medicines are in FDA's class of antimalarials: hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), atovaquone (Mepron), quinine, chloroquine, primaquine and mefloquine; 2 combination products also contain one. 7 of the 8 are listed from generic labelers (FDA NDC Directory, October 8, 2026). The lowest pharmacy cost is hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tablet at $0.149 per tablet (NADAC).
Which medicines are antimalarial?
| Medicine | Brand names | Generic labelers (all forms) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage | Recalls since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroxychloroquine | Plaquenil, Sovuna | 28 labelers | $0.149 per tablet 200 mg tablet | No | A presentation being discontinued | 2 |
| Atovaquone | Mepron | 20 labelers | $0.767 per mL 750 mg/5 mL suspension | No | No current entry | 4 |
| Quinine | none listed | 4 labelers | $0.698 per capsule 324 mg capsule | Yes | No current entry | 0 |
| Chloroquine | none listed | 4 labelers | $6.65 per tablet 500 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Atovaquone and proguanil | Malarone | 6 labelers | $1.49 per tablet 250-100 mg tablet | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Primaquine | none listed | 4 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry | 0 |
| Mefloquine | none listed | 3 labelers | $3.97 per tablet 250 mg tablet | Yes | No current entry | 1 |
| Artemether and lumefantrine | Coartem | none listed | $5.36 per tablet Coartem tablets | No | No current entry | 0 |
Source: FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (NDC Directory, openFDA); CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA shortages and recalls (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay?
Each medicine's most widely listed form, per unit, in the NADAC survey: what pharmacies paid, not what a patient pays; strengths differ, so compare like with like.
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price