60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals is launching a new clinical trial at Mount Sinai Health System to test Arakoda (tafenoquine) for chronic babesiosis. This tick-borne illness is caused by Babesia parasites that infect red blood cells.

The trial will focus on patients who have lab-confirmed babesiosis, are experiencing severe fatigue lasting at least six months, and may have other ongoing symptoms.

Participants will take tafenoquine orally for 90 days. The main goal is to see whether patients feel less fatigued by day 90, using a patient-reported fatigue scale.

Babesiosis can be hard to treat, especially when symptoms linger. This study could lead to new treatment options for people with long-term effects. The research is funded by the U.S. Army Medical & Materiel Development Activity, and results are expected in early 2026.

Tafenoquine is already approved for malaria prevention, and this trial could help expand its use to babesiosis.

The trial is not recruiting patients yet. Click here for more information about the study.

SOURCE: 60 Degrees Pharma