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<b>Background & objectives:</b> India has switched over to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> malaria and the ACT used in the national programme is artesunate + sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. Since the efficacy of ACT is dependent also on the partner drug, there is a need to evaluate and deploy multiple ACTs. <b>Methods:</b> This multicentre, single-arm, open-label clinical trial was carried out to assess the efficacy, safety and population pharmacokinetics of a fixed dose combination (FDC) artesunate mefloquine (ASMQ) in <i>P. falciparum</i> infected, Indian adults at Panjim, Goa, and Mangalore, Karnataka between December 2007 and November 2008. <b>Results:</b> A total of 77 patients (males 74) were screened and enrolled: 42 at Goa and 35 at Mangalore with a median age of 25 yr (range 18-55 yr). One patient failed in treatment on D53, a PCR proven new infection, seven developed recurrent vivax parasitaemia and 11 did not have a parasitological endpoint. By per protocol analysis, the D63 cure rate was 58/59 (98.3; 95% C.I. 90.9-99.9%), and 58/58, with PCR correction. ASMQ was welltolerated and no serious adverse events were reported. <b>Interpretation & conclusion:</b> The study showed that the ASMQ FDC was efficacious and well-tolerated for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated <i>P. falciparum</i> malaria in highly endemic, chloroquine resistant areas of Goa and Mangalore. It is a viable option for India.