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Malaria VivaxPhase 3PvSTATEMNCT06923592

Serological Testing and Treatment for Plasmodium Vivax Malaria: a Trial in Ethiopia and Madagascar

A Phase 3 study testing PvSeroTAT in people with Malaria Vivax and Malaria Falciparum, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 2 sites in 2 countries.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The resilience of P. vivax to malaria elimination efforts is due to its ability to form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that reactivate weeks to months after the initial infection causing recurrent episodes of malaria (relapses) and ongoing parasite transmission. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 12 months and older
What is being tested?
PvSeroTAT
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
19,200 participants
Where
2 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
12 May 2025to 28 Apr 2027
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 12 months and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participant will remain in the study area for at least the next month.
  • Participant is older than 12 months

Who cannot join

  • Participant is unwilling to participate.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 2 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Rob W van der Pluijm contact

0033145688000

rvanderp@pasteur.fr

2 sites in 2 countries

Ethiopia1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Armauer Hansen Research Institute

    Addis Ababa

    Fitsum T Girma, PhD, +251113483752, fitsum.girma@ahri.gov.et

    Not yet recruiting

Other trials in Ethiopia

Madagascar1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Institut Pasteur de Madagascar

    Antananarivo

    Rindra Randremanana, PhD, +261209741272, rrandrem@pasteur.mg

    Recruiting

Other trials in Madagascar

About this study

Official title: Serological Testing and Treatment for Plasmodium Vivax Malaria: a Cluster-Randomised Trial in Ethiopia and Madagascar

The resilience of P. vivax to malaria elimination efforts is due to its ability to form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that reactivate weeks to months after the initial infection causing recurrent episodes of malaria (relapses) and ongoing parasite transmission. Relapses account for a majority of recurrent infections and clinical cases of P. vivax malaria, and therefore have a significant effect on morbidity at the individual level.

With current technology, it is not possible to directly measure hypnozoite biomarkers. Rather than directly detecting hypnozoites, our team developed an indirect approach by measuring antibodies induced by the primary blood-stage infection. Antibodies to different blood-stage antigens decay at different rates. Measuring antibodies to a carefully selected panel of P. vivax antigens can aid to identify individuals who have been infected within the previous 9 months (approximately the lifespan of hypnozoites).

Read more

A serological test based on selected P. vivax antigens can detect recent exposure and predict future relapses. Coupling this test with a safe and efficacious primaquine treatment regimen, results in a population-based intervention to target the hypnozoite reservoir. This intervention is referred to as Plasmodium vivax Serological Testing and Treatment (PvSeroTAT).

PvSTATEM is a cluster randomised trial in Madagascar and Ethiopia. This study will provide insights into the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the PvSeroTAT approach. In this study, individuals, randomised by clusters, will be tested for the presence of serological markers of a recent P. vivax infection, followed by a targeted drug treatment intervention aimed at killing P. vivax hypnozoites.

Read the detailed description

In each country, 24 clusters (48 clusters in total) will be randomly allocated using computer generated numbers to one of the two interventions:

Arm 1 (PvSeroTAT intervention) or Arm 2 (Control arm). Within each cluster, approximately 400 participants (range 100-600) will be enrolled, based on the trial's inclusion and exclusion criteria. At baseline (month 0) and month 6 serology for P. vivax infections will be performed in all study participants. In the clusters in the PvSeroTAT arm, participants with a positive P. vivax serology at baseline or month 6 will be approached for treatment. First G6PD enzyme activity will be measured. If the enzyme activity is normal and no other contra-indication for treatment are found, the participants will be treated with 14 days of primaquine 0.25mg/kg/day OR 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg (Ethiopia) or 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg/day (Madagascar), and a three-day course of either chloroquine (Ethiopia) or artesunate-amodiaquine (Madagascar). It is possible that a participant could receive a radical P. vivax treatment at both baseline (month 0) and month 6. Participants will be monitored for side effects and adherence during the first 7 days after the start of antimalarial treatments. In addition, blood samples will be taken to measure hemoglobin levels to monitor for post-treatment hemolysis.

In the clusters in both arms, the incidence of malaria will be monitored through passive case detection in health posts up to 18 months after the first intervention. All cases that are detected during the passive case detection will be treated according to the national guidelines.

At month 12 and month 18 of the study, a cross sectional survey will be conducted in all study clusters. Blood samples will be taken to determine the prevalence of P. vivax and P. falciparum through PCR assays.

Being tested
PvSeroTAT, Control
Keywords
Plasmodium vivax, Vivax, PvSeroTAT, PvSTATEM, Primaquine, serology, Cluster randomised trial, G6PD
Medical subject headings
Malaria, Vivax, Malaria, Falciparum

What participants receive

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

  • PvSeroTATCombination product

    Two rounds (month 0 and month 6) of serological screening for antibodies against P. vivax in the blood of all eligible cluster inhabitants. In the clusters in the PvSeroTAT arm, participants with a positive P. vivax serology at baseline or month 6 will be treated with 14 days of primaquine 0.25mg/kg/day OR 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg (Ethiopia) or 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg/day (Madagascar), and a three-day course of either chloroquine (Ethiopia) or artesunate-amodiaquine (Madagascar)

  • ControlDiagnostic test

    Two rounds (month 0 and month 6) of serological screening for antibodies against P. vivax in the blood of a subset of eligible cluster inhabitants. Serological status will be assessed at a later stage (months later) and will not lead to treatment of sero-positive individuals.

Study groups in NCT06923592
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PvSeroTAT interventionExperimentalNot described
Receives: Combination Product: PvSeroTAT
Control armOtherNot described
Receives: Diagnostic Test: Control

What is being measured

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

  1. Proportion of individuals with PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections 6 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    6 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT, a blood sample will be collected from participants through fingerprick in the intervention clusters. In the control clusters a blood sample to determine PCR prevalence will be collected 6 months after the second round of blood sampling in that control cluster.

    Measured: 6 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

Secondary outcomes (21)
  1. Proportion of individuals with PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections 12 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 12 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    12 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT, a blood sample will be collected from participants through fingerprick in the intervention clusters. In the control clusters a blood sample to determine PCR prevalence will be collected 12 months after the second round of blood sampling in that control cluster.

    Measured: 12 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 12 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  2. Proportion of individuals with PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections 6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT (before second round) or 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT, a blood sample will be collected from participants through fingerprick in the intervention clusters. In the control clusters a blood sample to determine PCR prevalence will be collected 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in that control cluster.

    Measured: 6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  3. Decrease of mean cluster prevalence of PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections at month 6 after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters, compared to baseline.

    Measured: 6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  4. Decrease of mean cluster prevalence of PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections at month 12 after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 12 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters, compared to baseline.

    Measured: 12 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 12 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  5. Decrease of mean cluster prevalence of PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections at month 18 after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 18 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters, compared to baseline.

    Measured: 18 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 18 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  6. Incidence of clinical cases of P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria during the 6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or during the 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    Measured: 6 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  7. Incidence of clinical cases of P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria during the 12 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or during the 12 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    Measured: 12 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 12 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  8. Incidence of clinical cases of P. vivax and P. falciparum malaria during the 18 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or during the 18 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

    Measured: 18 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 18 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  9. Hemoglobin level at day 3

    Measured: Day 3

  10. Hemoglobin level at day 7

    Measured: Day 7

  11. Decrease in Hemoglobin between baseline and day 3 (absolute and proportional)

    Measured: Day 3

  12. Decrease in Hemoglobin between baseline and day 7 (absolute and proportional)

    Measured: Day 7

  13. Incidence of potential signs of clinically relevant Haemolysis

    25% drop in hemoglobin or hemoglobin<7gram/dL or macroscopic haemoglobinuria or the need for a blood transfusion

    Measured: 7 days

  14. Incidence of Serious Adverse Events

    Measured: 18 months after the first round of PvSeroTAT or 18 months after the first round of blood sampling in the control clusters.

  15. Coverage of serological tests for P. vivax antibodies as proportion of number of individuals per cluster

    Measured: Day 0 of month 0 or month 6

  16. Proportion of eligible individuals that refuses participation in the study

    Measured: Day 0 of month 0 or month 6

  17. Proportion of participants with positive P. vivax serology that refuses P. vivax treatment

    Measured: Day 1 of drug administration

  18. Proportion of serological positive individuals that start primaquine treatment

    Measured: Day 1 of drug administration

  19. Proportion of study participants that complete the 14-day or 7-day course of primaquine treatment.

    Measured: Day of start of treatment until day 7 of treatment

  20. Proportion of individuals that vomits at least once within 1 hour after treatment

    Measured: Day of start of treatment until day 7 of treatment

  21. Proportion of individuals that vomits twice within 1 hour after treatment.

    Measured: Day of start of treatment until day 7 of treatment

Timeline

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

  1. First posted11 Apr 2025
  2. Study start12 May 2025
  3. Primary completion28 Apr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion28 Apr 2027 (estimated)

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 3
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
In each country, 24 clusters (48 clusters in total) will be randomly allocated to one of the two interventions: Arm 1 (PvSeroTAT intervention) or Arm 2 (Control arm). Within each cluster, approximately 400 participants (range 100-600) that fulfill the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled. At baseline (month 0) and month 6 serology for P. vivax infections will be performed in all study participants. In the clusters in the PvSeroTAT arm, participants with a positive P. vivax serology at baseline or month 6 will be treated with 14 days of primaquine 0.25mg/kg/day OR 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg (Ethiopia) or 7 days of primaquine 0.5mg/kg/day (Madagascar), and a three-day course of either chloroquine (Ethiopia) or artesunate-amodiaquine (Madagascar)
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
19,200 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06923592
Sponsor's protocol ID
29643
Acronym
PvSTATEM
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
3 Apr 2025
Last updated
18 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Anonymised demographic data (e.g. age and sex). P. vivax serology results. Clinical parameters such as hemoglobin levels and clinical symptoms. Results of PCR assays for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing PvSeroTAT in people with Malaria Vivax and Malaria Falciparum, run by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at 2 sites in 2 countries.

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 2 inclusion and 1 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Ethiopia, Madagascar. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Rob W van der Pluijm (0033145688000, rvanderp@pasteur.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Proportion of individuals with PCR detectable P. vivax blood-stage infections 6 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters. (time frame: 6 months after the second round of PvSeroTAT or 6 months after the second round of blood sampling in the control clusters.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 18 Sep 2026.

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