Plasmodium Falciparum InfectionPhase 3NCT00379821
Chloroquine Alone or in Combination for Malaria in Children in Malawi
A Phase 3 study testing Atovaquone-proguanil, Artesunate and Azithromycin in people with Plasmodium Falciparum Infection, run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at 1 site in Malawi.
Trial summary
Malaria is a sickness caused by a germ that can get into a person's body when a mosquito bites them. It can cause fever, headache, body aches and weakness. It can even cause death, especially in children. When malaria is treated with the appropriate medicine(s), it can be cured completely. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 months to 5 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Plasmodium Falciparum Infection
- What is being tested?
- Atovaquone-proguanil, Artesunate and Azithromycin
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 640 participants
- Where
- 1 siteMalawi
- Study dates
- Feb 2007to Sep 2012
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 months to 5 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Subjects aged greater than or equal to 6 months to 5 years presenting to Ndirande Health Centre with signs or symptoms consistent with malaria including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:
- fever at the time of evaluation (axillary temperature greater than or equal to 37.5 degrees Celsius by digital thermometer)
- report of fever within the last two days
- clinically profound anemia (conjunctival or palmar pallor)
- headache
- body aches
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- abdominal pain
- decreased intake of food or fluids
- weakness
- Weight greater than or equal to 5kg.
- Positive malaria smear for P. falciparum mono-infection with parasite density 2,000-200,000/mm^3.
- Planning to remain in the study area for 1 year.
- Willingness to return for four-weekly routine visits, as well as unscheduled sick visits.
- Parental/guardian consent for each participant.
Who cannot join
- Signs of severe malaria: One or more of the following:
- hemoglobin less than or equal to 5 g/dL
- prostration
- respiratory distress
- bleeding
- recent seizures, coma or obtundation (Blantyre coma score < 5)
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- inability to drink
- persistent vomiting
- Known allergy or history of adverse reaction to chloroquine (CQ), artesunate, azithromycin, erythromycin or atovaquone-proguanil (AP)
- Chronic medication with any antibiotic or anti malarial medication
- Previous enrollment in this study
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than 5x the upper limit of normal or creatinine greater than 3x the upper limit of normal
- Evidence of chronic disease or physical stigmata of severe malnutrition (i.e., loss of muscle mass or subcutaneous tissue, edema, or skin or hair findings consistent with severe malnutrition)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Malawi1 site
Blantyre Malaria Project - Ndirande Health Centre
Blantyre, Blantyre
About this study
Official title: A Longitudinal Study of Chloroquine as Monotherapy or in Combination With Artesunate, Azithromycin or Atovaquone-Proguanil to Treat Malaria in Children in Blantyre, Malawi
Malaria is a sickness caused by a germ that can get into a person's body when a mosquito bites them. It can cause fever, headache, body aches and weakness. It can even cause death, especially in children. When malaria is treated with the appropriate medicine(s), it can be cured completely. The purpose of this study is to find out if it is better to use chloroquine alone or in combination with another drug to most effectively treat malaria. About 640 children with malaria, aged 6 months to 5 years of age, from the Blantyre Malaria Project Research Clinic at the Ndirande Health Center in Malawi will be in the study. They will be treated with either chloroquine alone or a combination of chloroquine plus another medication (azithromycin or artesunate or atovaquone-proguanil) every time they get malaria for a year. Blood samples will be collected and tested at least every 4 weeks. Participants will be involved in the study for 1 year.
Read the detailed description
Combination therapy is becoming the mainstay of malaria treatment. In general, the goal of combination therapy is to treat resistant infections successfully and to prevent the emergence and spread of resistance. The antimalarial combination therapies currently in use were not designed based on optimal pairing of drugs to deter the development and spread of parasite resistance to the individual partner drugs in settings of high malaria transmission. Careful studies are needed to identify the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drug combinations that will deter resistance and prolong the useful therapeutic life of the next generation of antimalarial drug combinations. Current in vivo methods for measuring antimalarial drug efficacy in high-transmission areas use a 14 or 28-day follow-up period, but a single episode study misses several critical factors in assessing the efficacy and impact of antimalarial treatment. When follow-up is extended beyond 28 days, more cases of apparent resistance or treatment failure are found. Single-episode studies cannot assess the impact of therapy on the incidence of malaria over time. These limitations of standard in vivo studies have led the investigators to advocate longitudinal studies of drug efficacy. In addition to measuring efficacy of individual treatments, longitudinal studies measure sustained efficacy with repeated use of the same regimen over time, a scenario that more accurately reflects the real-life use of anti-malarial medication. The primary outcome of interest is the incidence of malaria episodes, as well as the secondary outcomes of anemia and severe malaria, are all highly relevant to public health policy-makers, as they reflect not only the burden of disease but also the utilization of health resources. Longitudinal studies also permit assessment of how pharmacokinetic properties of drugs affect the incidence of treatment episodes. This is a randomized, open-label, longitudinal drug efficacy trial. Participants will include 640 children, aged 6 months to 5 years, who are found to have uncomplicated malaria at the Blantyre Malaria Project Research Clinic at the Ndirande Health Centre in Blantyre, Malawi. After enrollment, participants will be randomized to one of four treatment arms: chloroquine alone or chloroquine in combination with artesunate, atovaquone-proguanil (AP), or azithromycin. The treatment outcome will be assessed through a standard 28-day efficacy study. Participants will subsequently be evaluated every 4 weeks and encouraged to return to the study clinic any time they are ill during the course of one year. If a new episode of uncomplicated malaria is diagnosed, the participant will receive the same therapy as assigned on enrollment. Polymerase chain reaction-corrected 28-day efficacy will be evaluated for each treatment episode. The primary study objective is to compare annual incidence of malaria clinical episodes. Secondary objectives are to: assess anti-malarial drug efficacy at first administration, by treatment arm; assess anti-malarial drug efficacy during subsequent episodes of malaria, by treatment arm; measure prevalence of chloroquine resistant parasites during the trial, by treatment arm; assess effect of each treatment arm on anemia at the end of study participation; assess safety of these drugs with repeated use; determine the chloroquine blood levels at which chloroquine sensitive and resistant parasites are able to cause infection; assess the effect of population movements on the risk of malaria infection; and assess the spatial patterns and the environmental determinants of malaria infection. Participants will be involved in study rela
- Conditions
- Plasmodium Falciparum Infection
- Being tested
- Atovaquone-proguanil, Artesunate, Azithromycin, Chloroquine
- Keywords
- chloroquine, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Malawi, children
- Medical subject headings
- Malaria, Malaria, Falciparum
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Atovaquone-proguanilDrug
Atovaquone-proguanil: once a day for 3 days, Pediatric tablet: 62.5 mg/25 mg, Full strength tablet: 250 mg/100 mg
ArtesunateDrug
Artesunate: 4mg/kg once a day for 3 days, 50 mg tablet
AzithromycinDrug
Azithromycin 30 mg/kg once a day for 3 days, 200 mg/5cc suspension
ChloroquineDrug
Chloroquine: 10 mg/kg on days 0 and 1, 5 mg/kg/day on day 2, 100 mg tablet.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| CQ Monotherapy | Experimental | N=160: treat with Chloroquine (CQ) alone. Receives: Drug: Chloroquine |
| CQ plus atovaquone proguanil | Experimental | N=160: treat with CQ plus atovaquone proguanil. Receives: Drug: Atovaquone-proguanil; Drug: Chloroquine |
| CQ plus artesunate | Experimental | N=160: treat with CQ plus artesunate. Receives: Drug: Artesunate; Drug: Chloroquine |
| CQ plus azithromycin | Experimental | N=160: treat with CQ plus azithromycin. Receives: Drug: Azithromycin; Drug: Chloroquine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Clinical Malaria Episodes Per Year of Follow-up
Clinical malaria episode was defined as at least one symptom of malaria and a positive malaria smear. The number of clinical malaria episodes (not including the initial malaria episode) reported by participants during follow up is presented as the number per Person Years at Risk (PYAR).
Measured: 1 year
Secondary outcomes (37)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Adequate clinical and parasitologic response (ACPR) was defined as the absence of parasitemia at Day 28 and without previously meeting any of the criteria of early treatment or late clinical failure.
Measured: Day 28 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Adequate clinical and parasitologic response (ACPR) was defined as the absence of parasitemia at Day 28 and without previously meeting any of the criteria of early treatment or late clinical failure.
Measured: Day 28 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Adequate clinical and parasitologic response (ACPR) was defined as the absence of parasitemia at Day 28 and without previously meeting any of the criteria of early treatment or late clinical failure.
Measured: Day 28 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Adequate clinical and parasitologic response (ACPR) was defined as the absence of parasitemia at Day 28 and without previously meeting any of the criteria of early treatment or late clinical failure.
Measured: Day 28 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Adequate clinical and parasitologic response (ACPR) was defined as the absence of parasitemia at Day 28 and without previously meeting any of the criteria of early treatment or late clinical failure.
Measured: Day 28 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Number of Cases of Severe Malaria in Each Treatment Arm
A case of severe malaria included one or more of the following: Hemoglobin ≤5 g/dL; prostration; respiratory distress; bleeding; recent seizures, coma or obtundation (Blantyre coma score < 5); inability to drink, or persistent vomiting. All cases were then adjudicated by a panel of investigators prior to analysis.
Measured: 1 Year
Mean Hemoglobin at the Last Study Visit in Each Treatment Arm for the Age Group of Participants 3 Years of Age or Younger.
Hemoglobin values were assessed from blood collected at the last study visit at one year after enrollment. Group means are stratified by participants 3 years of age and under, and over 3 to 5 years of age.
Measured: 1 year
Mean Hemoglobin at the Last Study Visit in Each Treatment Arm for the Age Group of Participants Greater Than 3 Years to 5 Years of Age.
Hemoglobin values were assessed from blood collected at the last study visit at one year after enrollment. Group means are stratified by participants 3 years of age and under, and over 3 to 5 years of age.
Measured: 1 year
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 0 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 14 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 0 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 14 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 0 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 14 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 0 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 14 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 0 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Creatine values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode. Samples that were below the limit of detection were reported as 44.2 micromoles/liter, equivalent to the lower limit of detection.
Measured: Day 14 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 0 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 14 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 0 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 14 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 0 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 14 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 0 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 14 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 0 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
ALT values were assessed from blood draws at Day 0 and Day 14 of each malaria episode.
Measured: Day 14 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Number of Participants in Each Treatment Arm Who Change From "Normal" to "Abnormal" on Any Questions of the Neurological Examination
A basic age-appropriate neurological examination was conducted on Day 28 of each malaria illness episode and also at Days 112 and 224, and at 1 year. Subjects were were counted as a "change from 'normal' to 'abnormal' " if they had the 'normal' (or not-applicable) response for the initial day 28 exam and an 'abnormal' response at their last exam. If a subject did not have an exam at 1 year then the last available exam that was not associated with an illness episode (either Day 112 or 224) was used.
Measured: 1 Year
Number of Participants Infected With Parasites With the Mutation Pfcrt 76T on Day 0 of the Initial Episode of Malaria
The presence of parasites with the mutation pfCRT 76T was measured with filter paper specimens collected at the time of enrollment and with successful parasite DNA amplification using pyrosequencing.
Measured: Day 0 of initial episode of malaria
Number of Participants Infected With Parasites With the Mutation Pfcrt 76T at Recrudescent Episodes of Malaria
Participants were enrolled in the study at the time of the initial episode of malaria. If the participant presented with a subsequent episode of malaria at any time during the one year of follow-up, the presence of parasites with the mutation pfCRT 76T was measured with filter paper specimens collected at the time of enrollment and with successful parasite DNA amplification using pyrosequencing.
Measured: Recrudescent episodes of malaria within one year of enrollment
Number of Participants With New and Recrudescent Malaria Infections After Initial Treatment
Participants were enrolled at the time of initial malaria episode and treated. Subsequent to treatment, subjects were monitored for the occurrence of new and recrudescent malaria infections, which were distinguished by analysis of the infecting parasites using merozoite surface protein-2 polymorphic gene length variation.
Measured: 28 days to 1 year
Number of Participants With New and Recrudescent Infections After Subsequent New Episodes
Participants were enrolled at the time of initial malaria episode and treated. Subsequent to treatment, participants who subsequently suffered new malaria episodes were monitored for the additional occurrence of new and recrudescent malaria infections, which were distinguished by analysis of the infecting parasites using merozoite surface protein-2 polymorphic gene length variation.
Measured: Day 28 to 1 year
Time to First Malaria Episode in Participants Who Travelled and Slept Outside the City Versus Those Who Did Not Travel and Sleep Outside the City.
The cumulative hazard of having a malaria attack within one year for those participants who travelled and slept in rural areas (outside the city) versus those who did not was calculated and is presented as a life table to display the number of subjects at risk, the number with first clinical episode and the number censored at each time point. Participants are right-censored at the time of first malaria episode. Participants who did not develop malaria during follow-up or were lost to follow-up were censored at the time of their last visit.
Measured: Days 0 - 420
Nearest Neighbor Index as a Measure of Spatial Pattern of the Distribution of Malaria Cases in Ndirande
The Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to establish the coordinates of participants' homes. The distribution of these coordinates was analyzed for evidence of clustering, or occurring closer together than would be expected on the basis of chance. Nearest Neighbor Index is a ratio of the observed mean distance over the expected mean distance. If the index is less than 1, the pattern exhibits clustering. If the index is greater than 1, the trend is toward dispersion.
Measured: 1 year
Pharmacokinetics of Chloroquine Represented by Time of Maximal Concentration (Tmax) and Chloroquine Half-life
1727 non-zero concentration measurements from 479 participants were pooled and used for population pharmacokinetic modeling in Monolix413s. Compartmental population pharmacokinetic modeling was used due to highly sparse data. The model was parameterized in terms of absorption rate constant for chloroquine (Ka), apparent clearance for chloroquine (CL/F, with F as the unknown oral bioavailability), apparent volume of distribution of the central and peripheral compartments for chloroquine (Vd/F), and the inter-compartmental clearance for chloroquine (Q/F). Only these primary population pharmacokinetic parameters could be estimated using the type of data collected. The best-fit population PK model was then used to estimate individual parameter estimates to derive Tmax and half-life.
Measured: Day 0 - Day 28
Pharmacokinetics of Chloroquine Represented by Maximum Concentration (Cmax)
1727 non-zero concentration measurements from 479 participants were pooled and used for population pharmacokinetic modeling in Monolix413s. Compartmental population pharmacokinetic modeling was used due to highly sparse data. The model was parameterized in terms of absorption rate constant for chloroquine (Ka), apparent clearance for chloroquine (CL/F, with F as the unknown oral bioavailability), apparent volume of distribution of the central and peripheral compartments for chloroquine (Vd/F), and the inter-compartmental clearance for chloroquine (Q/F). Only these primary population pharmacokinetic parameters could be estimated using the type of data collected. The best-fit population PK model was then used to estimate individual parameter estimates to derive Cmax in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
Measured: Day 0 - Day 28
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Sep 2006 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2007
- Primary completionAug 2009
- Study completionSep 2012
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Plasmodium Falciparum InfectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 640 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00379821
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 06-0022
- Status last verified
- Jul 2014
- First submitted
- 21 Sep 2006
- Last updated
- 11 Aug 2014
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Publications
Laufer MK, Thesing PC, Dzinjalamala FK, Nyirenda OM, Masonga R, Laurens MB, Stokes-Riner A, Taylor TE, Plowe CV. A longitudinal trial comparing chloroquine as monotherapy or in combination with artesunate, azithromycin or atovaquone-proguanil to treat malaria. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42284. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042284. Epub 2012 Aug 17.
PubMed 22912697
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Aug 2014. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Longitudinal Study of Chloroquine as Monotherapy or in Combination With Artesunate, Azithromycin or Atovaquone-Proguanil to Treat Malaria in Children in Blantyre, Malawi
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00379821
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 06-0022
- Conditions
- Plasmodium Falciparum Infection
- Keywords
- chloroquine, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Malawi, children
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 640 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- Feb 2007
- Primary completion
- Aug 2009 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2012 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Sep 2006 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 27 Jul 2011
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Malaria is a sickness caused by a germ that can get into a person's body when a mosquito bites them. It can cause fever, headache, body aches and weakness. It can even cause death, especially in children. When malaria is treated with the appropriate medicine(s), it can be cured completely. The purpose of this study is to find out if it is better to use chloroquine alone or in combination with another drug to most effectively treat malaria. About 640 children with malaria, aged 6 months to 5 years of age, from the Blantyre Malaria Project Research Clinic at the Ndirande Health Center in Malawi will be in the study. They will be treated with either chloroquine alone or a combination of chloroquine plus another medication (azithromycin or artesunate or atovaquone-proguanil) every time they get malaria for a year. Blood samples will be collected and tested at least every 4 weeks. Participants will be involved in the study for 1 year.
Detailed description
Combination therapy is becoming the mainstay of malaria treatment. In general, the goal of combination therapy is to treat resistant infections successfully and to prevent the emergence and spread of resistance. The antimalarial combination therapies currently in use were not designed based on optimal pairing of drugs to deter the development and spread of parasite resistance to the individual partner drugs in settings of high malaria transmission. Careful studies are needed to identify the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drug combinations that will deter resistance and prolong the useful therapeutic life of the next generation of antimalarial drug combinations. Current in vivo methods for measuring antimalarial drug efficacy in high-transmission areas use a 14 or 28-day follow-up period, but a single episode study misses several critical factors in assessing the efficacy and impact of antimalarial treatment. When follow-up is extended beyond 28 days, more cases of apparent resistance or treatment failure are found. Single-episode studies cannot assess the impact of therapy on the incidence of malaria over time. These limitations of standard in vivo studies have led the investigators to advocate longitudinal studies of drug efficacy. In addition to measuring efficacy of individual treatments, longitudinal studies measure sustained efficacy with repeated use of the same regimen over time, a scenario that more accurately reflects the real-life use of anti-malarial medication. The primary outcome of interest is the incidence of malaria episodes, as well as the secondary outcomes of anemia and severe malaria, are all highly relevant to public health policy-makers, as they reflect not only the burden of disease but also the utilization of health resources. Longitudinal studies also permit assessment of how pharmacokinetic properties of drugs affect the incidence of treatment episodes. This is a randomized, open-label, longitudinal drug efficacy trial. Participants will include 640 children, aged 6 months to 5 years, who are found to have uncomplicated malaria at the Blantyre Malaria Project Research Clinic at the Ndirande Health Centre in Blantyre, Malawi. After enrollment, participants will be randomized to one of four treatment arms: chloroquine alone or chloroquine in combination with artesunate, atovaquone-proguanil (AP), or azithromycin. The treatment outcome will be assessed through a standard 28-day efficacy study. Participants will subsequently be evaluated every 4 weeks and encouraged to return to the study clinic any time they are ill during the course of one year. If a new episode of uncomplicated malaria is diagnosed, the participant will receive the same therapy as assigned on enrollment. Polymerase chain reaction-corrected 28-day efficacy will be evaluated for each treatment episode. The primary study objective is to compare annual incidence of malaria clinical episodes. Secondary objectives are to: assess anti-malarial drug efficacy at first administration, by treatment arm; assess anti-malarial drug efficacy during subsequent episodes of malaria, by treatment arm; measure prevalence of chloroquine resistant parasites during the trial, by treatment arm; assess effect of each treatment arm on anemia at the end of study participation; assess safety of these drugs with repeated use; determine the chloroquine blood levels at which chloroquine sensitive and resistant parasites are able to cause infection; assess the effect of population movements on the risk of malaria infection; and assess the spatial patterns and the environmental determinants of malaria infection. Participants will be involved in study rela
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| CQ Monotherapy | Experimental | Drug: ChloroquineN=160: treat with Chloroquine (CQ) alone. |
| CQ plus atovaquone proguanil | Experimental | Drug: Atovaquone-proguanil, Drug: ChloroquineN=160: treat with CQ plus atovaquone proguanil. |
| CQ plus artesunate | Experimental | Drug: Artesunate, Drug: ChloroquineN=160: treat with CQ plus artesunate. |
| CQ plus azithromycin | Experimental | Drug: Azithromycin, Drug: ChloroquineN=160: treat with CQ plus azithromycin. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 months to 5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Subjects aged greater than or equal to 6 months to 5 years presenting to Ndirande Health Centre with signs or symptoms consistent with malaria including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:
- Weight greater than or equal to 5kg.
- Positive malaria smear for P. falciparum mono-infection with parasite density 2,000-200,000/mm^3.
- Planning to remain in the study area for 1 year.
- Willingness to return for four-weekly routine visits, as well as unscheduled sick visits.
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Signs of severe malaria: One or more of the following:
- Known allergy or history of adverse reaction to chloroquine (CQ), artesunate, azithromycin, erythromycin or atovaquone-proguanil (AP)
- Chronic medication with any antibiotic or anti malarial medication
- Previous enrollment in this study
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than 5x the upper limit of normal or creatinine greater than 3x the upper limit of normal
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Atovaquone-proguanilAtovaquone-proguanil: once a day for 3 days, Pediatric tablet: 62.5 mg/25 mg, Full strength tablet: 250 mg/100 mg | Drug | CQ plus atovaquone proguanil |
| ArtesunateArtesunate: 4mg/kg once a day for 3 days, 50 mg tablet | Drug | CQ plus artesunate |
| AzithromycinAzithromycin 30 mg/kg once a day for 3 days, 200 mg/5cc suspension | Drug | CQ plus azithromycin |
| ChloroquineChloroquine: 10 mg/kg on days 0 and 1, 5 mg/kg/day on day 2, 100 mg tablet. | Drug | CQ Monotherapy, CQ plus artesunate, CQ plus atovaquone proguanil, CQ plus azithromycin |
Primary outcome
Number of Clinical Malaria Episodes Per Year of Follow-up
Time frame: 1 year
Clinical malaria episode was defined as at least one symptom of malaria and a positive malaria smear. The number of clinical malaria episodes (not including the initial malaria episode) reported by participants during follow up is presented as the number per Person Years at Risk (PYAR).
37 secondary outcomes
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: Day 28 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: Day 28 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: Day 28 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: Day 28 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Number of Participants With Day 28 Adequate Clinical and Parasitologic Response in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: Day 28 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Number of Cases of Severe Malaria in Each Treatment Arm
Time frame: 1 Year
Mean Hemoglobin at the Last Study Visit in Each Treatment Arm for the Age Group of Participants 3 Years of Age or Younger.
Time frame: 1 year
Mean Hemoglobin at the Last Study Visit in Each Treatment Arm for the Age Group of Participants Greater Than 3 Years to 5 Years of Age.
Time frame: 1 year
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Creatinine in Each Treatment Arm (Renal Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of initial malaria episode (Episode 0)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of first subsequent malaria episode (Episode 1)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of second subsequent malaria episode (Episode 2)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of third subsequent malaria episode (Episode 3)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 0 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Mean Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in Each Treatment Arm (Hepatic Function)
Time frame: Day 14 of fourth subsequent malaria episode (Episode 4)
Number of Participants in Each Treatment Arm Who Change From "Normal" to "Abnormal" on Any Questions of the Neurological Examination
Time frame: 1 Year
Number of Participants Infected With Parasites With the Mutation Pfcrt 76T on Day 0 of the Initial Episode of Malaria
Time frame: Day 0 of initial episode of malaria
Number of Participants Infected With Parasites With the Mutation Pfcrt 76T at Recrudescent Episodes of Malaria
Time frame: Recrudescent episodes of malaria within one year of enrollment
Number of Participants With New and Recrudescent Malaria Infections After Initial Treatment
Time frame: 28 days to 1 year
Number of Participants With New and Recrudescent Infections After Subsequent New Episodes
Time frame: Day 28 to 1 year
Time to First Malaria Episode in Participants Who Travelled and Slept Outside the City Versus Those Who Did Not Travel and Sleep Outside the City.
Time frame: Days 0 - 420
Nearest Neighbor Index as a Measure of Spatial Pattern of the Distribution of Malaria Cases in Ndirande
Time frame: 1 year
Pharmacokinetics of Chloroquine Represented by Time of Maximal Concentration (Tmax) and Chloroquine Half-life
Time frame: Day 0 - Day 28
Pharmacokinetics of Chloroquine Represented by Maximum Concentration (Cmax)
Time frame: Day 0 - Day 28
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Aug 2014.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 22912697Laufer MK, Thesing PC, Dzinjalamala FK, Nyirenda OM, Masonga R, Laurens MB, Stokes-Riner A, Taylor TE, Plowe CV. A longitudinal trial comparing chloroquine as monotherapy or in combination with artesunate, azithromycin or atovaquone-proguanil to treat malaria. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42284. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042284. Epub 2012 Aug 17.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Atovaquone-proguanil, Artesunate and Azithromycin in people with Plasmodium Falciparum Infection, run by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at 1 site in Malawi.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 14 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Aug 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Malawi. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 27 Jul 2011). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Clinical Malaria Episodes Per Year of Follow-up (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00379821, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Aug 2014.