Inclusion Criteria:  Patients with FA confirmed by genetic analysis Weight of at least 50 kg Compliant patient agreeing to come to all protocol visits Signature of consent form by patient or parents of minor patient Patients with no treatment during 30 days prior to the first intake of study drug, except cardiac, diabetes and spasticity treatments Patients agreeing to use effective contraception for the duration of the study and up to 91 days after the last dose of the study treatment Affiliation to an Health Insurance Scheme of beneficiary of such a scheme  Exclusion Criteria:  Patient under justice protection Female patients Abnormal biological values of renal and liver functions and cell blood count (CBC) Progressive associated disease Treatment interfering with iron transport within 30 days before first intake of artesunate Participation to another clinical trial Hypersensitivity to artesunate or to any component of the drug Blood potassium lower than normal value QT / QTc interval > 450 ms on the ECG performed at inclusion Congenital long QT syndrome Family history of sudden cardiac death before the age of 50 Heart disease: ischemia or myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or conduction disorder in the 6 months preceding inclusion History of arrhythmia Electrolyte imbalances: hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia Bradycardia (<50 beats per minute) Acute neurological events within 6 months prior to inclusion