Pyronaridine - Artesunate (3:1) Versus Mefloquine Plus Artesunate in Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Patients

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Falciparum Malaria

Interventions: Drug: Mefloquine plus artesunate
Drug: Pyronaridine - artesunate

Registration Number: NCT00403260

Lead Sponsor: Medicines for Malaria Venture

Brief Summary: The primary objective of this phase III clinical study is to compare the efficacy and safety of the fixed combination of pyronaridine artesunate (Pyramax®, PA) with that of the combination of mefloquine plus artesunate (MQ + AS) in children and adults with uncomplicated P falciparum malaria in South East Asia, India and Africa.

Detailed Description: This is a multi-centre, comparative, randomised, open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority study comparing the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination of PA to a loose combination of MQ + AS for patients with acute, symptomatic, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. The study population will include 1271 patients, comprising male and female children (≥20 kg body weight) and adults, recruited from study sites in South East Asia, India and Africa. Patients will be randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive either oral PA (180:60mg tablets) or MQ (250mg tablets) plus AS (100mg tablets) once a day for 3 consecutive days (Days 0, 1, and 2). The study drug will be administered by a Third-Party Investigator unblinded to the study treatment, while the Investigator remains blinded.

Patients will be confined to the to the study facility for ≥4 days (Days 0, 1, 2, and 3) and remain near the study site for ≥7 days, or once fever and parasite clearance has been confirmed for ≥24 hours - whichever occurs later.

The primary efficacy end point for the study is the proportion of patients with PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Day 28. Scheduled follow-up visits will continue until completion of the study at Day 42. In the case of adverse events reported and unresolved at Day 42, patients will be followed up for a further 30 days, or until resolution of the event.

The primary efficacy end point for the study is the proportion of subjects with PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Day 28 (defined as the absence of parasitaemia without the subject's meeting any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure, or late parasitological failure). Scheduled follow-up visits will continue until completion of the study at Day 42. In the case of adverse events reported and unresolved at Day 42, patients will be followed up for a further 30 days, or until resolution of the event.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 1271

Inclusion Criteria

Male or female patients between the ages of 3 and 60 years, inclusive.
Body weight between 20 kg and 90 kg with no clinical evidence of severe malnutrition.
Presence of acute uncomplicated P. falciparum mono-infection confirmed by:
1. Fever, as defined by axillary/tympanic temperature ≥37.5°C or oral/rectal temperature ≥38°C, or documented history of fever in the previous 24 hours and,
2. Positive microscopy of P. falciparum with parasite density between 1,000 and 100,000 asexual parasite count/µl of blood
Written informed consent provided by patient and/or parent/guardian/spouse.
Ability to swallow oral medication.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with signs and symptoms of severe/complicated malaria requiring parenteral treatment according to the World Health Organization Criteria 2000.
Mixed Plasmodium infection.
Severe vomiting or severe diarrhoea.
Known history or evidence of clinically significant disorders.
Presence of significant anaemia, as defined by Hb <8 g/dL.
Presence of febrile conditions caused by diseases other than malaria.
Known history of hypersensitivity, allergic or adverse reactions to pyronaridine, mefloquine or artesunate or other artemisinins.
Use of any other antimalarial agent within 2 weeks prior to start of the study as evidenced by positive urine test.
Female patients of child-bearing potential must be neither pregnant (as demonstrated by a negative pregnancy test) nor lactating, and must be willing to take measures to not become pregnant during the study period.
Presence of significant renal or hepatic impairment.
Receipt of an investigational drug within the past 4 weeks.
Known active Hepatitis A IgM, Hepatitis B surface antigen or Hepatitis C antibody.
Known seropositive HIV antibody.
Previous participation in any clinical study with PA.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mefloquine plus artesunate	Mefloquine plus artesunate	Mefloquine (250mg tablets) plus artesunate (100mg tablets) once a day for 3 consecutive days (Day 0, 1, and 2). Posology based on body weight ranges.
Pyronaridine - artesunate	Pyronaridine - artesunate	Oral pyronaridine artesunate (180:60mg tablets) once a day for 3 consecutive days (Day 0, 1, and 2). Posology based on body weight ranges.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Subjects With PCR-corrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR) on Day 28	Day 28	Percentage of subjects with PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Day 28, defined as absence of parasitaemia on Day 28 without the subject's meeting any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure, or late parasitological failure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PCR-corrected ACPR on Day 14	Day 14	Percentage of subjects with PCR-corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Day 14, defined as absence of parasitaemia on Day 14 without the subject's meeting any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure, or late parasitological failure
Fever Clearance at Day 1, 2 and 3	Days 1, 2 and 3	Fever clearance time was defined as the time for at least 2 consecutive normal body temperature measurements (\<37.5°C axillary/tympanic or \<38.0°C oral/rectal) to be obtained within an interval of 7 to 25 hours post-dosing.
Crude ACPR on Days 14 and 28	Days 14 and 28	Percentage of subjects with adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Days 14 and 28, without correction by PCR, defined as absence of parasitaemia on Days 14 and 28 without the subject's meeting any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure, or late parasitological failure
Parasite Clearance Time	Thick blood films were examined every 8 hours until ≥72 hours or until 2 consecutive negative readings occurred 7 to 25 hours apart, and on Days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 (or any other day if the subject returned).	Parasite clearance time was defined as the time from first dosing to time of first blood draw with parasite clearance. Parasite clearance was defined as zero presence of asexual parasites for 2 consecutive negative readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart.
Fever Clearance Time	Every 8 hours over ≥72 hours following first study drug administration or temperature normalisation for ≥2 readings between 7 and 25 hours apart, then at each visit.	Fever clearance time was defined as the time from first dosing to first normal reading of temperature (\<37.5°C taken axillary or tympanic; \<38°C taken oral or rectal) for 2 consecutive normal temperature readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart.
Adverse Events and Clinically Significant Laboratory Results	Day 0 to 42. Subjects experiencing AEs at Day 42 were followed for up to 30 days after the end of study or resolution of the event, whichever was earlier	Cases and severity of adverse events and of clinically significant laboratory results, ECG, vital signs or physical examination abnormalities
Parasite Clearance at Day 1, 2 and 3	Days 1, 2 and 3	Parasite clearance time was defined as the time from first dosing to the time of first blood draw with parasite clearance. Parasite clearance was defined as zero presence of asexual parasites for 2 consecutive negative readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart.

Trial Locations

Locations (9): RAOTAP2/Centre Muraz
🇧🇫
Bobo Dioulasso, Houet Province, Burkina Faso
Wentlock District Hospital
🇮🇳
Mangalore, India
Institut Pasteur
🇨🇮
Abidjan, Côte D'Ivoire
MaeLamad District Hospital
🇹🇭
Mae Ramat, Tak Province, Thailand
Choray Hospital, Dak O
🇻🇳
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Pailin Referral Hospital
🇰🇭
Pailin, Pailin Province, Cambodia
Bagamoyo Research and Training Centre of Ifakara Health Institute
🇹🇿
Bagamoyo, Tanzania
MaeSod General Hospital
🇹🇭
Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand
NIMPE
🇻🇳
Hanoi, Commune Xy, Vietnam