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CompletedNCT00297882Updated Jun 8, 2021Results posted

Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy: Clinical Trials in Cameroon

A Phase 3 interventional study of 1. Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) and 2. Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS) in Malaria, sponsored by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Completed. Open to participants aged 6 Months to 120 Months. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-06-08.

Sponsored by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
816
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
6 Months to 120 Months
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This proposal aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of artemisinin-based anti-malaria combination drugs (ACTs) for the treatment of children aged 6-120 months in different locations in Cameroon. Randomized clinical trials will provide local data on the safety of the test drugs, and on putative marker mutations of the development of resistance to ACT. The study will involve three centers, namely, Banso (Guinea-Savannah region), Limbe(Littoral Forest), and Garoua(Sahel-Savannah). The trial will compare the efficacy and safety of Amodiaquine(AQ)-Artesunate(Art) with Coartem®(Artemether-Lumefantrine). Drug efficacy will be determined using a WHO standardized 28-day protocol. Safety will be monitored through clinical examination and biochemical and hematological indices. Molecular markers of artemisinin resistance will be investigated by molecular sequencing and comparison of parasite profiles of the PfATP6 gene in drug failure cases, . Recrudescences or re-infections will be assessed by analysis of the msp1 and msp2 genes. The impact of these combinations on generation of gametocytes will be determined from gametocyte carriage rates measured by microscopy.

Read the detailed description
  • Outpatients will be screened for malaria by blood film examination
  • Malaria-positive children will be examined by the physician for inclusion or exclusion(see below)
  • Informed consent will be sought from the guardians of potential patients
  • Patients or guardians will be interviewed and a case record form completed
  • Patients will be randomized into one of the two arms in the ratio 4:1 AQ/Art: CoArtem and issued a study card
  • Filter paper and 5ml venous blood samples will be collected
  • Patients will be hospitalised for three days to allow completion of therapy under observation
  • The patient will be asked to return on days 7, 14 and 28 for assessment of clearance or recrudescence of parasites
  • Patient will be examined for parasites and evaluated for early treatment failure (ETF), late treatment failure (LTF), late parasitological failure (LPF) or adequate clinical and parasitological response.(ACPR).
  • If a patient does not appear for follow up, a community health worker will try to trace them and will collect blood onto filter paper and a microscope slide should the patient have a temperature ≥ 37.5°C
  • Patients whose parents opt out of the study will be administered quinine sulphate if parasitaemic
  • Filter paper samples will be air dried and stored with dessicant until required.
  • Whole blood samples collected into citrate as anticoagulant will be processed for plasma, aliquoted into 300µl lots and stored at -70°C.
  • Patient information will be entered at the close of each day into laptops and collectively sent to Yaounde at the end of the first month of study and thereafter at the end of each week, along with the hard copies of the case report forms.
  • Analysis will be performed on the samples within three months of collection for molecular markers of resistance, genetic structure of parasites and for blood drug levels of medications used in the trial
02

Conditions studied

  • Malaria

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Keywords

  • Efficacy
  • Safety
  • Children
  • Cameroon
03

In context

Malaria

1,299 studies on the registry are indexed under Malaria; 86 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 816 is above the median of 220 across 1,027 interventional studies indexed under Malaria.

Browse Malaria studies →

Lead sponsor

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is the lead sponsor of 296 studies on the registry; 15 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
6 Months to 120 Months
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • children aged 6-120 months;
  • axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C and/or history of fever within past 24 hours;
  • P. falciparum asexual parasitemia between 1000 and 100000/µl;
  • ability to attend follow-up visits.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  • co-infections;
  • underlying chronic disease;
  • severe malaria as indicated by hyperparasitemia, severe anemia (PCV 15%, Hb 5g/ml), respiratory distress, inability to drink, persistent vomiting in past 24 hours;
  • recent history of multiple convulsions;
  • jaundice;
  • the inability to stand or sit;
  • history of allergy to study drugs.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
816 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    1 Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL)

    Study group 1. Subjects in this group received treatment with Artemether-Lumefantrine. Children received 2 mg/kg Artemether and 12 mg/kg Lumefrantrine with milk twice daily (or every 12 hours for 3 days.

    Drug: 1. Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL)

  • Active comparator
    2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)

    Study group 2. Subjects in this group received treatment with Amodiaquine-Artesunate. Children received a co-administered combination of 30 mg/kg Amodiaquine (AQ) plus 4 mg/kg Artesunate (AS) daily for 3 days.

    Drug: 2. Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)

Interventions

  • Drug1. Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL)

    Artemether-Lumefantrine(Co-Artem)=Artemether, 2mg/kg x 2(12h apart) and Lumefantrine, 12mg/kgx2 (12h apart).

    Also known as: CoArtem

  • Drug2. Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)

    Amodiaquine-Artesunate (0H),D1(24H),D2(48H)= Artesunate 4mg/kg and Amodiaquine at 10mg/kg

    Also known as: Arsucam

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Cure Rate on Day 28

    To evaluate the safety and antimalarial efficacy of two drug combinations: Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) and Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ - AS) in Camaroonian patients in Mutengene, Bangolan and Garoua

    Time frame: Day 0 - 28

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cure Rate Day 14

    To evaluate antimalarial efficacy of AL and AQ-AS on day 14 post-treatment

    Time frame: Day 0-14

07

Results

Posted Jun 8, 2021
Limitations and caveats
There were no limitations or caveats that prevented completion of the trial as planned

Participant flow

Eight hundred and sixteen children aged 6-120 months with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were studied in three ecological different regions of Cameroon - Mutengene (Littoral equatorial forest), Bangolan (Rice farming guinea-savanna) and Garoua (Guinea-savannah).

Day 14
Participant flow — Day 14
Milestone1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine- Artesunate
Started204612
Completed192563
Not completed1249
Withdrew: Lack of efficacy1249
Day 28
Participant flow — Day 28
Milestone1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine- Artesunate
Started192563
Completed176540
Not completed1623
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up1323
Withdrew: Lack of efficacy30

Outcome measures

PrimaryCure Rate on Day 28

To evaluate the safety and antimalarial efficacy of two drug combinations: Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) and Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ - AS) in Camaroonian patients in Mutengene, Bangolan and Garoua

Time frame:
Day 0 - 28
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Cure Rate on Day 28
Participants1 Artemether-Lumefantrine AL2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate AQ-AS
Cure Rate on Day 28197603
Statistical analysis
  • 1 Artemether-Lumefantrine AL vs 2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate AQ-AS · t-test, 2 sided · p = >0.05
SecondaryCure Rate Day 14

To evaluate antimalarial efficacy of AL and AQ-AS on day 14 post-treatment

Time frame:
Day 0-14
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Cure Rate Day 14
Participants1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate
Cure Rate Day 14192563
Statistical analysis
  • 1 Artemether-Lumefantrine vs 2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate · t-test, 2 sided · p = >0.05

Adverse events

Collected over 28 days following treatment.. Non-serious events are listed at a 1% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
1 Artemether-Lumefantine (AL)2/204 (1%)6/204 (2.9%)105/204 (51.5%)
2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)2/612 (0.3%)3/612 (0.5%)272/612 (44.4%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
Event1 Artemether-Lumefantine (AL)2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)
HemoglobinuriaHepatobiliary disorders3/2040/612
Event leading to deathInfections and infestations2/2042/612
Blackwater feverInfections and infestations1/2040/612
HepatitisHepatobiliary disorders0/2041/612
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
Event1 Artemether-Lumefantine (AL)2 Amodiaquine-Artesunate (AQ-AS)
LeucopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders53/204139/612
AnorexiaGastrointestinal disorders31/204123/612
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders32/20421/612
LymphopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders29/20493/612
Abdominal painGastrointestinal disorders25/20463/612
NeutropeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders15/20420/612
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders15/20423/612
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders9/20420/612
Cuteneous eruptionsSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3/20421/612
ItchingSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3/20412/612

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(months)1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine-ArtemetherTotal
Mean52.87 ± 28.450.77 ± 27.3351.82 ± 27.87
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine-ArtemetherTotal
Female104302406
Male100310410
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)1 Artemether-Lumefantrine2 Amodiaquine-ArtemetherTotal
Cameroon204612816
08

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

09

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Database available on request of Prof Wilfred Mbacham wfmbacham@yahoo.com

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Csr

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 8, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00297882
Lead sponsor
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Collaborators
University of Yaounde, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health
Responsible party
Brian Greenwood (Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 1, 2006
Start date
Jul 2006
Primary completion
Apr 2009
Completion
Jul 2009
Results posted
Jun 8, 2021
Last update
Jun 8, 2021

Study contacts

Wilfred F Mbacham, ScD
principal investigator · University of Yaounde

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in May 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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