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MalariaPhase 3NCT00373607

Efficacy and Safety of Dihydroartemisinin/Piperaquine (Artekin®) for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Peru

A Phase 3 study testing Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine and Mefloquine + Artesunate in people with Malaria, run by Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium.

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

In Peru, Mefloquine plus Artesunate (MAS3), is the current first line treatment for P. falciparum malaria in the Amazonian Region, and has proved its efficacy against multi-resistant P. falciparum parasites, but several side effects have been reported. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for
Malaria
What is being tested?
Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine and Mefloquine + Artesunate
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
522 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Jul 2003to Jul 2005
Phase
Phase 3
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 5 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age: 5 - 60 years old
  • Fever (axillary temperature equal or higher than 37,5 °C) or history of fever in the previous 24 hours
  • Monoinfection with P. falciparum, with parasitic density between 1,000 and 200,000 par/µl
  • Informed consent provided by patient or parent or legal tutor
  • Exclusion criteria:
  • Mixed malaria infection
Show all 13Show fewer
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding to child ≤ 6 months of age
  • One or more danger signs or any sign of severe or complicated malaria
  • A concomitant severe disease
  • History of treatment with mefloquine in the last 60 days or chloroquine, primaquine or quinine within the 14 days before the present episode
  • History of neuropsychiatric disease
  • History of hypersensitivity reactions to artemisinins or mefloquine
  • History of splenectomy

Who cannot join

None listed.

About this study

Official title: Phase 3a: Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dihydroartemisinin/Piperaquine (Artekin®) for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in the Peruvian Amazon Region

In Peru, Mefloquine plus Artesunate (MAS3), is the current first line treatment for P. falciparum malaria in the Amazonian Region, and has proved its efficacy against multi-resistant P. falciparum parasites, but several side effects have been reported. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is a new co-formulated and well tolerated ACT, increasingly used in Southeast Asia where it has proved to be highly effective against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We tested the efficacy, safety and tolerability of DHA-PPQ in patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. A RCT to evaluate DHA-PPQ was carried out, between 2003 and 2005. Patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly allocated to receive either DHA-PPQ or MAS3 with a 63-day follow-up period. Five hundred twenty two patients were included in the analysis, 262 were allocated to receive DHA-PPQ, and 260 to receive MAS3. The two groups were comparable at baseline in demographic and clinical characteristics. The mean time for parasite clearance into the DHA-PPQ group was 32.0 hours and 35.5 hours in the MAS3 group. Twenty-four hours after the first dose, the proportions of patients whose cleared parasitaemia were 67.2% in the DHA-PPQ group, and 58.1% in the MAS3 group (RR 1.25, [95% CI 1.03-1.52], p = 0.017). All patients were able to clear parasites within 72 hours after the first dose. The mean time for fever clearance was 28.0 and 29.5 hours in DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively. (P= 0.69). Twenty-four hours after the first dose, 85.5% and 83.1% of patients cleared fever in the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively (p>0.05). The Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR), PCR adjusted, were 97.7% and 99,2% for the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively, (RR 0.99, 95% CI [0.86-1.13], P = 0.88). No Early Treatments Failures were reported in any group. In the DHA-PPQ group, according to the PCR adjusted results, 6 subjects had Late treatment Failures. In the MAS3 group, two Late Treatment Failures was reported. The frequency of adverse events was significantly lower in patients treated with DHA-PPQ than in those treated with MAS3.

DHA-PPQ proved to be a highly effective antimalarial drug for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria and suitable for use in the Peruvian Amazon region. It also has the advantage of being better tolerated. In terms of cost, DHA-PPQ is cheaper and more affordable than MAS3 and should be considered for the National Antimalarial Drug Policy in Perú.

Read the detailed description

In Peru, Mefloquine plus Artesunate (MAS3), is the current first line treatment for P. falciparum malaria in the Amazonian Region, and has proved its efficacy against multi-resistant P. falciparum parasites, but several side effects have been reported. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is a new co-formulated and well tolerated ACT, increasingly used in Southeast Asia where it has proved to be highly effective against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We tested the efficacy, safety and tolerability of DHA-PPQ in patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. A RCT to evaluate DHA-PPQ was carried out, between 2003 and 2005. Patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly allocated to receive either DHA-PPQ or MAS3 with a 63-day follow-up period. Five hundred twenty two patients were included in the analysis, 262 were allocated to receive DHA-PPQ, and 260 to receive MAS3. The two groups were comparable at baseline in demographic and clinical characteristics. The mean time for parasite clearance into the DHA-PPQ group was 32.0 hours and 35.5 hours in the MAS3 group. Twenty-four hours after the first dose, the proportions of patients whose cleared parasitaemia were 67.2% in the DHA-PPQ group, and 58.1% in the MAS3 group (RR 1.25, [95% CI 1.03-1.52], p = 0.017). All patients were able to clear parasites within 72 hours after the first dose. The mean time for fever clearance was 28.0 and 29.5 hours in DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively. (P= 0.69). Twenty-four hours after the first dose, 85.5% and 83.1% of patients cleared fever in the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively (p>0.05). The Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR), PCR adjusted, were 97.7% and 99,2% for the DHA-PPQ and MAS3 group respectively, (RR 0.99, 95% CI [0.86-1.13], P = 0.88). No Early Treatments Failures were reported in any group. In the DHA-PPQ group, according to the PCR adjusted results, 6 subjects had Late treatment Failures. In the MAS3 group, two Late Treatment Failures was reported. The frequency of adverse events was significantly lower in patients treated with DHA-PPQ than in those treated with MAS3.

DHA-PPQ proved to be a highly effective antimalarial drug for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria and suitable for use in the Peruvian Amazon region. It also has the advantage of being better tolerated. In terms of cost, DHA-PPQ is cheaper and more affordable than MAS3 and should be considered for the National Antimalarial Drug Policy in Perú.

Conditions
Malaria
Being tested
Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine, Mefloquine + Artesunate
Keywords
Non complicated malaria, Microscopy, Adult, Children
Medical subject headings
Malaria

What participants receive

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

  • Dihydroartemisin-piperaquineDrug

    Also called Artekin

    Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine (Artekin) manufactured by Hualijian Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Guangzhou, China. Each tablet contains 40mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320mg piperaquine

  • Mefloquine + ArtesunateDrug

    Also called MAS3

    Mefloquine + Artesunate (MAS3). The regimen is artesunate 4 mg/kg/day once daily for 3 days plus mefloquine 24 mg/kg given as a three day regimen of 8mg/kg/day

Study groups in NCT00373607
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dihydroartemisin-piperaquineExperimentalDihydroartemisin-piperaquine (Artekin, Hualijian Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Guangzhou, China). Each tablet contains 40mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320mg piperaquine
Receives: Drug: Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine
Mefloquine + Artesunate (MAS3)Active comparatorThe MAS3 regimen is artesunate 4 mg/kg/day once daily for 3 days plus mefloquine 24 mg/kg given as a three day regimen of 8mg/kg/day
Receives: Drug: Mefloquine + Artesunate

What is being measured

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

  1. Adequate Clinical and parasitological response

    Measured: Day 63

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Recrudescence

    Measured: Day 63

  2. Reinfections

    Measured: day 63

  3. SAE

    Measured: Day 63

  4. AE

    Measured: Day 63

Timeline

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

  1. First posted8 Sep 2006 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2003
  3. Primary completionJul 2005
  4. Study completionJul 2005

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
522 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00373607
Sponsor's protocol ID
ARTEKINPERU
Status last verified
Sep 2010
First submitted
7 Sep 2006
Last updated
14 Sep 2010
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Grande T, Bernasconi A, Erhart A, Gamboa D, Casapia M, Delgado C, Torres K, Fanello C, Llanos-Cuentas A, D'Alessandro U. A randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Peru. PLoS One. 2007 Oct 31;2(10):e1101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001101.

    PubMed 17971864

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine and Mefloquine + Artesunate in people with Malaria, run by Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium.

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 13 inclusion and 0 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 14 Sep 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

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?

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?

Adequate Clinical and parasitological response (time frame: Day 63). 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 NCT00373607, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 14 Sep 2010.

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