Cross-over Study to Evaluate the Palatability of New Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODTs) of Praziquantel (PZQ) and L-PZQ Versus Current PZQ Tablets in African Children Age 6-11 Years
- Registration Number
- NCT02315352
- Lead Sponsor
- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
- Brief Summary
The primary objective of the trial is to compare the "overall palatability" of the new orally disintegrating L-Praziquantel (L-PZQ ODT), the new racemate PZQ ODT (Rac-PZQ ODT) and the current available racemate PZQ tablets (reference) as assessed by means of human gustatory sensation tests (100 millimeter \[mm\] visual analogue scale \[VAS\] scoring modified by the incorporation of a 5 point facial hedonic scale).
The secondary objectives are
* To obtain feedback from children regarding the taste of different formulations using an open ended questionnaire
* To document any discomfort or other observation in relation to acceptance of the study medication
- Detailed Description
Initially pupils will be invited with their parents to school where they will be asked to give consent/assent in to the study and they will be instructed on how to follow up the taste study procedures. Enrollments will occur in the health facilities in Ikwiriri/Kibiti at the end of successive training. Informed consent from parents and guardians and assent from the child will be obtained before participation in the study. The study will be conducted in school children 6 years and older as recommended by the Committee for medical product for human use (CHMP) reflection paper: formulations of choice for the pediatric population.
-This is a randomized, five-period cross over, single center swill and spit taste study where the drug will not be swallowed but will be spit out after tasting.
On Day 1, the subjects will assess the palatability of the following arms in a randomized sequence:
* L-PZQ ODT (150 mg) put and disintegrated in the mouth
* Rac- PZQ ODT (150 mg) put and disintegrated in the mouth
On Day 2, the subjects will assess the palatability of the following arms in a randomized sequence:
* L-PZQ ODT (150 mg) dispersed in water administered in the mouth cavity
* Rac- ODT (150 mg) dispersed in water administered in the mouth cavity
* 150 mg current PZQ tablet (1/4 of a 600 mg tablet) crushed, dispersed in water and administered in the mouth cavity
Gustatory sensation studies will be performed on the different formulations immediately after tasting and 2-5 min after the study drug has been spat out.
All volunteers will be asked to place a mark along the line with the use of a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) that incorporates a 5 points hedonic scale for "overall palatability".
In addition, any discomfort or other observation in relation to acceptance of the study medication (Example: spitting out of the medicine) will be reported by the parents or investigator.
An open ended questionnaire (description of mouth feeling and taste description) will be conducted for each child during the washout period. After the trial a therapeutic dose of Praziquantel will be made available to the local health council and management team to provide to the participating school.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 48
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Period 1 and 2 L-PZQ ODT A-B or B-A where A: L-PZQ ODT (MSC 2499550A) put on tongue; B: Rac-PZQ ODT (MSC1028703A) put on the tongue Period 3, 4 and 5 L-PZQ ODT C-D-E; C-E-D; D-E-C; D-C-E; E-C-D; E-D-C where C: L-PZQ ODT (MSC 2499550A) dispersed in water; D: Rac-PZQ ODT (MSC1028703A) dispersed in water; E: Cesol® 150 mg crushed in water Period 3, 4 and 5 Cesol® C-D-E; C-E-D; D-E-C; D-C-E; E-C-D; E-D-C where C: L-PZQ ODT (MSC 2499550A) dispersed in water; D: Rac-PZQ ODT (MSC1028703A) dispersed in water; E: Cesol® 150 mg crushed in water Period 1 and 2 Rac-PZQ ODT A-B or B-A where A: L-PZQ ODT (MSC 2499550A) put on tongue; B: Rac-PZQ ODT (MSC1028703A) put on the tongue Period 3, 4 and 5 Rac-PZQ ODT C-D-E; C-E-D; D-E-C; D-C-E; E-C-D; E-D-C where C: L-PZQ ODT (MSC 2499550A) dispersed in water; D: Rac-PZQ ODT (MSC1028703A) dispersed in water; E: Cesol® 150 mg crushed in water
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Overall Palatability Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Score at 0 Minute (Right After the Spit-out of the Investigational Medicinal Product [IMP]) 0 minute (Right After the Spit-out of the IMP) Overall palatability was assessed on a 0 to 100 unit VAS scale, where higher scores indicate better palatability.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Overall Palatability VAS Score at 2-5 Minutes 2-5 minutes (After the IMP has been spat out) Overall palatability was assessed on a 0 to 100 unit VAS scale, where higher scores indicate better palatability.
Number of Subjects With Mouth Feeling and Taste Description Evaluation 2-5 minutes (After the IMP has been spat out) Mouth feeling was described in terms of "sweet", "bitter", "sticky" or "smooth" as per the experience of the subject with the trial medication.
Number of Subjects With Discomfort or Observations Relating to Acceptance of the Study Medication 2-5 minutes
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Ifakara Health Institute
🇹🇿Ikwiriri, Rufiji, Tanzania