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Pyronaridine Artesunate (3:1) Versus Coartem® in P Falciparum Malaria Patients

Registration Number
NCT00422084
Lead Sponsor
Medicines for Malaria Venture
Brief Summary

The primary objective of this phase III study is to compare the efficacy and safety of the fixed combination of pyronaridine artesunate (Pyramax®, PA) with that of Coartem® (artemether lumefantrine, AL) in children and adults with uncomplicated P falciparum malaria in Africa and South East Asia.

Detailed Description

This is a multi-centre, comparative, randomised, (double-blind, double-dummy), parallel-group, non-inferiority study comparing the efficacy and safety of the fixed combination of PA with that of AL in the treatment of acute, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. The study population will include 1269 patients, comprising male and female children (≥20 kg body weight) and adults recruited from study sites in Africa and South East Asia.

Patients will be randomised to receive either oral PA (180:60mg tablets) once a day plus AL-placebo (twice a day) for 3 consecutive days (Days 0, 1, and 2) or AL twice a day plus PA-placebo (once a day) for 3 consecutive days (Days 0, 1, and 2) in a 2:1 ratio. The dose range of PA covered by this regimen is 7.2:2.4 mg/kg to 13.8:4.6 mg/kg, respectively, which has been shown to be effective and safe in Phase I and II studies. Posology will be based on body weight ranges for both the PA and AL regimens.

Patients will be confined 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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1272
Inclusion Criteria
  • Male or female patients between the age 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, in accordance with local practice, 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, lumefantrine or artesunate or other artemisinins.
  • Patients with known disturbances of electrolytes balance, e.g., hypokalaemia or hypomagnesaemia.
  • Use of any other antimalarial agent within 2 weeks prior to start of the study as evidenced by a 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.
  • Patients taking any drug which is metabolised by the cytochrome enzyme CYP2D6 (flecainide, metoprol, imipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine).
  • Received an investigational drug within the past 4 weeks.
  • Known active Hepatitis A IgM (HAV-IgM), Hepatitis B surface antigen. (HBsAg) or Hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab).
  • Known seropositive HIV antibody.
  • Liver function tests [ASAT/ALAT levels] >2.5 times the upper limit of normal range.
  • Known significant renal impairment as indicated by serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
AL groupCoartem® (artemether lumefantrine)Arthemether lumefantrine (AL)
PA groupPyronaridine artesunatePyronaridine artesunate (PA)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
PCR-Corrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR) Rate on Day 28Day 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
NameTimeMethod
PCR-corrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR) on Day 14Day 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.

Percentage of Patients With Fever Clearance at Day 1, 2 and 3Days 1, 2, 3

Fever clearance time is defined as the time from first dosing to first normal reading of temperature for 2 consecutive normal temperature readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart.

Adverse Events and Clinically Significant Laboratory ResultsDay 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

Incidence of adverse events and of clinically significant laboratory results, ECG, vital signs or physical examination abnormalities.

Crude ACPR (Non-PCR Corrected ACPR) on Day 14 and Day 28Day 14 and 28

Percentage of subjects with adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) on Day 28, without correction by PCR, 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.

Fever Clearance TimeDay 0 and every 8 hours over ≥72 hours following first study drug administration or temperature normalization for ≥2 readings between 7 and 25 hours apart, then at each visit and as clinically indicated

Fever clearance time is defined as the time from first dosing to first normal reading of temperature for 2 consecutive normal temperature readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart

Parasite Clearance TimeDays 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 (or on any other day if the subject spontaneously returned)

Parasite clearance time is defined as the time from first dosing to the time of first blood draw with parasite clearance. Parasite clearance is defined as zero presence of asexual parasites for 2 consecutive negative readings taken between 7 and 25 hours apart.

Proportion of Patients With Parasite Clearance at Day 1, 2 and 3Days 1, 2, 3

Parasite clearance time is 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 (10)

Ecole de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Kinshasa

🇨🇩

Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the

Farafenni Field Station, c/o: MRC Laboratories

🇬🇲

Fajara, Gambia

Komfo Anoykye Teaching Hospital

🇬🇭

Kumasi, Ghana

RSUD TC Hillers

🇮🇩

Maumere, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia

Jayapura General Hospital (RSUD) DOK II

🇮🇩

Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia

Siaya District Hospital, Medical Superintendent's office

🇰🇪

Siaya, Kenya

Malaria Research and Training Center, Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d'Ondonto-stomatologie

🇲🇱

Bamako, Mali

Instituto Nacional de Saude, Ministero de Saude

🇲🇿

Maputo, Mozambique

Puerto Princesa General Hospital

🇵🇭

Puerto Princesa, Philippines

Service de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop

🇸🇳

Dakar, Dakar Fann, Senegal

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