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YawsPhase 4NCT03490123

Evaluation of an Intensive 3-round MDA Strategy Towards Yaws Eradication

A Phase 4 study testing R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin and R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin in people with Yaws, run by Lihir Medical Centre at 1 site in Papua New Guinea.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The current principle of yaws eradication (the Morges strategy) is based on single round mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin (AZI) called total community treatment (TCT) followed by targeted treatment of active cases every 6 months to detect and treat cases and contacts called total targeted treatment… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 6 months and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Yaws
What is being tested?
R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin and R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
56,000 participants
Where
1 sitePapua New Guinea
Study dates
16 Apr 2018to 1 Apr 2020
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • all people resident or not in wards in the study region present at time of implementation or in subsequent surveys

Who cannot join

  • Children younger than 6 months
  • Known allergy to macrolide antibiotics
  • Refusal at village or individual levels

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Papua New Guinea1 site
  • Namatanai Rural Hospital

    Kavieng, New Ireland Province, 08912

Other trials in Papua New Guinea

About this study

Official title: Defining the Best Distribution Strategy of Azithromycin for Yaws Eradication (The Yaws 3 Trial)

The current principle of yaws eradication (the Morges strategy) is based on single round mass drug administration (MDA) of azithromycin (AZI) called total community treatment (TCT) followed by targeted treatment of active cases every 6 months to detect and treat cases and contacts called total targeted treatment (TTT). Studies done in Papua New Guinea (PNG) show that 1 round of MDA will probably not suffice to stop transmission of infection. It may be preferable to conduct 3 rounds of MDA prior to the switch to TTT because of high coverage requirements to achieve elimination, particularly of latent cases. The investigators plan to determine whether 3 rounds of MDA are more effective for reaching yaws elimination. This research is needed to guide national programmatic implementation and needs to be done as soon as possible to scale up the program in the country.

The aim of this proposal is to ascertain the number of rounds of MDA with AZI to be included in an improved strategy towards yaws eradication. The study will be implemented in 38 wards of New Ireland Province (NIP). The investigators will compare two different distribution strategies of MDA: (A) strategy with 3 biannual rounds of MDA and (B) a single mass treatment round of MDA followed by targeted treatment of cases and contacts. The investigators will also monitor the risk of appearance of antimicrobial resistance in Treponema pertenue.

Read the detailed description

In 2013 WHO piloted the yaws eradication MDA strategy in several countries, including PNG. A study carried out on Lihir Island has shown that 1-round MDA with single-dose oral AZI reduced the prevalence of yaws by 90% at 12-months. However, this did not suffice to stop transmission of infection. At baseline, the estimated prevalence of PCR-confirmed active infection was 1.8% and greatly reduced to 0.4% at 6-months, and 0.1% at 24 months; but prevalence increased again to 0.4% at 42 months after MDA. The relapse of untreated latent infections appeared to hinder elimination efforts in this community. Almost half of subjects with newly identified active yaws cases during follow up targeted treatment programs reported having not been present for MDA. T. p. pertenue may become resistant to macrolide antibiotics, as has occurred with T. p. pallidum (the causative agent of syphilis) in some developed countries, which necessitates close monitoring for the emergence of resistance. The investigators recently reported the first documented genotypic macrolide resistance in T. p. pertenue infections in PNG. A total of five clinical specimens, out of 208 samples tested during the post-MDA period of 3·5 years, demonstrated a T. p. pertenue strain carrying the A2059G point mutation. There was only local spread of the resistant clone among relatives and friends and further spread was immediately stopped through the use of alternative (benzathine penicillin) antibiotic to treat the newly identified cases and contacts.

The eligible population will be people targeted for MDA treatment living in the three LLG study areas at time of implementation. The 38 wards will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 1 vs 3 rounds of MDA using AZI. All villages within a ward will receive the same intervention in an effort to minimize contamination between villages. The intervention arm will receive 3 rounds (0, 6, 12 months) of MDA with AZI, each round known as total community treatment (TCT); control arm will receive 1 round (0 months) of MDA with AZI followed by total targeted treatment (TTT) (6 and 12 months). During each MDA round all study participants will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of AZI orally under direct observation.

The primary outcome will be prevalence of PCR-confirmed active yaws measured in the entire population at 18 months. The investigators will estimate the evolution of latent yaws prevalence measured as the proportion of children 1-15 years who are dually positive on the DPP test at two time-points (0, 18 months).

Conditions
Yaws
Being tested
R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin, R3-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin
Keywords
Azithromycin, Endemic treponematoses, Mass drug administration, Eradication, Papua New Guinea
Medical subject headings
Yaws

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • R1-Total community treatment with azithromycinDrug

    Also called R1-TCT

    At month 0, all study participants (regardless of their yaws status) will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of azithromycin orally under direct observation. Benzathine benzylpenicillin will be reserved as a backup for patients who cannot be treated with AZI, and who are not allergic to penicillin.

  • R2-Total community treatment with azithromycinDrug

    Also called R2-TCT

    At month 6, all study participants (regardless of their yaws status) will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of azithromycin orally under direct observation. Benzathine benzylpenicillin will be reserved as a backup for patients who cannot be treated with AZI, and who are not allergic to penicillin.

  • R3-Total community treatment with azithromycinDrug

    Also called R3-TCT

    At month 12, all study participants (regardless of their yaws status) will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of azithromycin orally under direct observation. Benzathine benzylpenicillin will be reserved as a backup for patients who cannot be treated with AZI, and who are not allergic to penicillin.

  • R2-Total targeted treatment with azithromycinDrug

    Also called R2-TTT

    At 6 months, study participants will be screened for active yaws. Participants with yaws and their contacts will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of azithromycin orally under direct observation. Benzathine benzylpenicillin will be reserved as a backup for patients who cannot be treated with AZI, and who are not allergic to penicillin.

  • R3-Total targeted treatment with azithromycinDrug

    Also called R3-TTT

    At 12 months, study participants will be screened for active yaws. Participants with yaws and their contacts will receive 30 mg/Kg (maximum 2 g) of azithromycin orally under direct observation. Benzathine benzylpenicillin will be reserved as a backup for patients who cannot be treated with AZI, and who are not allergic to penicillin.

Study groups in NCT03490123
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
InterventionExperimentalRepeated total community treatment, TCT with study drug: Azithromycin tablets, 30mg/Kg (maximum 2g), a single dose every 6 months, for 12 months (3 doses). Study interventions are: R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin.
Receives: Drug: R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin; Drug: R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin; Drug: R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin
ControlActive comparatorSingle total community treatment, TCT, with study drug: Azithromycin tablets, 30mg/Kg (maximum 2g), a single, at month 0 (1 dose); followed by two total targeted treatment, TTT, with study drug: Azithromycin tablets, 30mg/Kg (maximum 2g), a single, at months 6 and 12. Study interventions are: R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin, R3-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin.
Receives: Drug: R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin; Drug: R2-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin; Drug: R3-Total targeted treatment with azithromycin

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Prevalence of active and of latent yaws at 18 months

    Prevalence of active yaws confirmed by PCR at 18 months and prevalence of latent yaws determined by reaginic and non-reaginic positive DPP tests at 18 months

    Measured: 18 months

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Appearance of macrolide resistant yaws strains across the study population

    1. p. pertenue molecular analyses

    Measured: 18 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Apr 2018
  2. Study start16 Apr 2018
  3. Primary completion1 Apr 2020
  4. Study completion1 Apr 2020

Resources

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 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Community intervention study
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
56,000 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03490123
Sponsor's protocol ID
Yaws3
Status last verified
Jun 2021
First submitted
29 Mar 2018
Last updated
23 Jun 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided: Possible statistical and modelling exercises

Publications

  • Mitja O, Godornes C, Houinei W, Kapa A, Paru R, Abel H, Gonzalez-Beiras C, Bieb SV, Wangi J, Barry AE, Sanz S, Bassat Q, Lukehart SA. Re-emergence of yaws after single mass azithromycin treatment followed by targeted treatment: a longitudinal study. Lancet. 2018 Apr 21;391(10130):1599-1607. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30204-6. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

    PubMed 29428183
  • Mitja O, Houinei W, Moses P, Kapa A, Paru R, Hays R, Lukehart S, Godornes C, Bieb SV, Grice T, Siba P, Mabey D, Sanz S, Alonso PL, Asiedu K, Bassat Q. Mass treatment with single-dose azithromycin for yaws. N Engl J Med. 2015 Feb 19;372(8):703-10. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1408586.

    PubMed 25693010
  • John LN, Beiras CG, Houinei W, Medappa M, Sabok M, Kolmau R, Jonathan E, Maika E, Wangi JK, Pospisilova P, Smajs D, Ouchi D, Galvan-Femenia I, Beale MA, Giacani L, Clotet B, Mooring EQ, Marks M, Vall-Mayans M, Mitja O. Trial of Three Rounds of Mass Azithromycin Administration for Yaws Eradication. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jan 6;386(1):47-56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2109449.

    PubMed 34986286

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing R1-Total community treatment with azithromycin, R2-Total community treatment with azithromycin and R3-Total community treatment with azithromycin in people with Yaws, run by Lihir Medical Centre at 1 site in Papua New Guinea.

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 1 inclusion and 3 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 23 Jun 2021. 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 Papua New Guinea. 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 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Prevalence of active and of latent yaws at 18 months (time frame: 18 months). 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 NCT03490123, which also lists 3 linked publications.

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 23 Jun 2021.

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