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Status unknownNCT04829695Updated Apr 2, 2021

Efficacy and Safety of Artesunate-amodiaquine and Artemether-lumefantrine for the Treatment of Malaria in Cameroon

A Phase 4 interventional study of Artesunate-amodiaquine drug combination and Artemether-lumefantrine drug combination in Falciparum Malaria, sponsored by University of Yaounde 1. Status unknown. Open to participants aged 6 Months to 120 Months. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-04-02.

Sponsored by University of Yaounde 1 · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Mar 2021), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
184
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
6 Months to 120 Months
Sex
All
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Study summary

Malaria remains a major public health concern in Cameroon especially among vulnerable groups such as children less than five years and pregnant women. Artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) have been used for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum in Cameroon since 2004. Worldwide, several studies among children have reported high efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). There is paucity of data to support the continuous use of ASAQ and AL in Cameroon. The main objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine during a 28-day follow-up period in children with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the Center Region of Cameroon. A randomized, open-labelled, controlled clinical trial comparing artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) will be carried out from 5th April to 31st December, 2021 at six hospitals in the Center Region of Cameroon. The study participants shall include febrile patients aged 6 months to 10 years with confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum infection. Eligible children for whom parent/guardian informed consents are obtained will be randomized to receive either artesunate-amodiaquine (group A) or artemether-lumefantrine (group B) in the ratio 1:1. A minimum sample of 76 patients will be required for the study. With a 20 % increase to allow loss to follow-up and withdrawals during the 28-day follow-up period, 92 patients will be enrolled for each of the two study arms. The study will recruit a total of 184 patients. However, since 6 sites will be involved, a minimum of 30 participants shall be enrolled per site. Drug intake will be done under strict supervision on days 0, 1 and 2. Follow-up visits will be performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to evaluate clinical and parasitological resolution of their malaria episode as well as adverse events. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping of merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 (msp-1, msp-2) as well as glutamate rich protein (GLURP) will be used to differentiate between recrudescence and new infection.

Read the detailed description

Brief title: Efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of malaria in Cameroon.

Official title: Monitoring the efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria among children in the Center Region of Cameroon.

Purpose: To monitor the efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria among children in the Center Region of Cameroon.

Background: Malaria remains a major public health concern in Cameroon especially among vulnerable groups such as children less than 5 years and pregnant women. artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) are currently being used for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum in Cameroon. Worldwide, several studies among children have reported high efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). There is paucity of data to support the continuous use of ASAQ and AL in Cameroon.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine during a 28-day follow-up period among children with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Center Region of Cameroon.

Study sites: District Hospital Akonolinga, District Hospital Mfou, District Hospital Soa, District Hospital Mbalmayo, District Hospital Mbandjock, and District Hospital Ngog-Mapubi in the Center Region of Cameroon.

Study period: 5th April to 31st December, 2021. Study design: This surveillance study is a two arm, open label, randomized controlled clinical trial.

Patient population: Febrile patients aged 6 months to 10 years, with confirmed uncomplicated P. falciparum infection. Eligible children for whom parent/guardian informed consents are obtained will be randomized to receive either artesunate-amodiaquine (group A) or artemether-lumefantrine (group B) in the ratio 1:1.

Sample size: A minimum sample of 76 patients will be required for the study. With a 20 % increase to allow loss to follow-up and withdrawals during the 28-day follow-up period, 92 patients will be enrolled for each of the two study arms. The study will recruit a total of 184 patients. At least 30 participants shall be enrolled at each of the six study sites.

Treatment (s) and follow-up: Drug intake will be done under strict supervision on days 0, 1 and 2. Follow-up visits will be performed on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to evaluate clinical and parasitological resolution of their malaria episode as well as adverse events. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping of merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 (msp-1, msp-2) as well as glutamate rich protein (GLURP) will be used to differentiate between recrudescence and new infection.

Classification of treatment outcomes: Classification of treatment outcomes will be done based on the WHO 2009 guidelines: treatment failure (Early Treatment Failure-ETF, Late Clinical failure-LCF and Late Parasitological Failure-LPF) and treatment success (Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response-ACPR).

02

Conditions studied

  • Falciparum Malaria

Keywords

  • Malaria
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Artesunate-amodiaquine
  • Artemether-lumefantrine
03

In context

Malaria

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

This study's planned enrollment of 184 is below the median of 220 across 1,027 interventional studies indexed under Malaria.

Browse Malaria studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Yaounde 1 is the lead sponsor of 9 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

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

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Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Children of either gender, aged 6 months to 10 years will be recruited.
  • Uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria confirmed by microscopy using Giemsa-stained thick film with an asexual parasite density within the range 1000 to 200000 parasites/μl.
  • Presenting with fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.5oC) or having a history of fever in the preceding 24 hours.
  • Able to ingest tablets orally (either suspended in water or uncrushed with food).
  • Willing to participate in the study with written informed consent from parent/guardian.
  • Willing and able to attend the clinic on stipulated regular follow-up visits.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Mixed or mono-infection with another Plasmodium species detected by microscopy.
  • Children who are currently suffering or had the following within the last 2 months: tuberculosis, HIV, schistosomiasis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, underlying chronic hepatic or renal disease, hypoglycaemia, jaundice, respiratory distress, and other inflammatory-related diseases.
  • Signs/symptoms indicating severe/complicated malaria" according to WHO criteria (WHO definition) such as:

    1. Not able to drink or breastfeed.
    2. Persistent vomiting (>2 episodes within the previous 24 hours).
    3. Convulsions (>1 episode within the previous 24 hours).
    4. Lethargic/unconscious.
    5. Severe anemia (hemoglobin \< 5 g/dl).
  • Serious gastrointestinal disease.
  • Presence of severe malnutrition defined as a child aged between 6-60 months whose weight-for-height is below -3 z-score (W/H \< 70%) or has symmetrical oedema involving at least the feet or has a mid-upper arm circumference \< 115 mm).
  • Regular medication, which may interfere with anti-malarial pharmacokinetics.
  • History of hypersensitivity reactions or contraindications to any of the medicine (s) being tested or used as alternative treatment (s).
  • Individuals who have taken part in anti-malarial efficacy and safety studies in the last 3 months.
  • Participants who have taken anti-malarial drugs within the last one month.
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Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
184 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Artesunate-amodiaquine (Arm A)

    Artesunate-amodiaquine is co-packaged as artesunate 50 mg and amodiaquine hydrochloride USP equivalent to amodiaquine base of 153.1 mg. Each child shall be given one, two or three tablets depending on the weight.

    Drug: Artesunate-amodiaquine drug combination

  • Active comparator
    Artemether-lumefantrine (Arm B)

    Artemether-lumefantrine is formulated as tablets and will be provided in blister packs. Each tablet contains 20 mg artemether and 120 mg lumefantrine. Every pack has a picture showing how the drug should be given and contains two blisters for each day with one, two or three tablets depending on the weight of the child.

    Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine drug combination

Interventions

  • DrugArtesunate-amodiaquine drug combination

    Artesunate-amodiaquine is co-packaged as artesunate 50 mg and amodiaquine hydrochloride USP equivalent to amodiaquine base of 153.1 mg. Each child shall be given one, two or three tablets depending on the weight.

    Also known as: Coarsucam

  • DrugArtemether-lumefantrine drug combination

    Artemether-lumefantrine is formulated as tablets and will be provided in blister packs. Each tablet contains 20 mg artemether and 120 mg lumefantrine. Every pack has a picture showing how the drug should be given and contains two blisters for each day with one, two or three tablets depending on the weight of the child.

    Also known as: Coartem

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with treatment success and adverse events following treatment with ASAQ and AL during 28 days follow-up period in children with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria

    Eligible children for whom parent/guardian informed consents are obtained will be randomized to receive either artesunate-amodiaquine (group A) or artemether-lumefantrine (group B) and follow-up will be done for a duration of 28 days.

    Time frame: 10 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Proportion of patients with early treatment failure, late clinical failure, late parasitological failure or an adequate clinical and parasitological response as indicators of efficacy according to the WHO 2009 guidelines

    Eligible children for whom parent/guardian informed consents are obtained will be randomized to receive either artesunate-amodiaquine (group A) or artemether-lumefantrine (group B) and follow-up will be done for a duration of 28 days. Recrudescence will be distinguished from re-infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

    Time frame: 10 months

  2. Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    Eligible children for whom parent/guardian informed consents are obtained will be randomized to receive either artesunate-amodiaquine (group A) or artemether-lumefantrine (group B) and follow-up will be done for a duration of 28 days.

    Time frame: 10 months

  3. Number of children with single nucleotide polymorphisms of P. falciparum genes responsible for resistance to ASAQ and AL

    Pre-treatment and recrudescence/reinfection samples during follow-up shall be used to characterize the molecular markers of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant transporter(Pfcrt), Plasmodium falciparum multi-drug resistant 1 (Pfmdr1), and Plasmodium falciparum K13 (Pfk13) propellar domain conferring resistance to artemisinins or partner drugs.

    Time frame: 10 months

  4. Number of children with single nucleotide polymorphisms of P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 genes

    Pre-treatment shall be used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms present in Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 genes.

    Time frame: 10 months

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Research findings will be communicated with the scientific community and policymakers. This will be done through public engagements and publications in peer-review journals.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Csr

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 2, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04829695
Lead sponsor
University of Yaounde 1
Collaborators
Biotechnology Center (BTC), University of Yaounde I, Cameroon, National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), Cameroon, Impact Malaria, Cameroon, Association Camerounaise pour le Marketing Social (ACMS), Cameroon
Responsible party
Professor Wilfred Fon Mbacham (Professor Wilfred Fon Mbacham, University of Yaounde 1) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 2, 2021
Start date
Apr 5, 2021 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2021 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2021 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 2, 2021

Study contacts

Wilfred Fon Mbacham, PhD
Contact
wfmbacham@yahoo.com
(+237) 677579180
PeterThelma Ngwa Niba, MSc
Contact
thelma2009@yahoo.co.uk
(+237) 653254729
Wilfred Fon Mbacham, PhD
principal investigator · University of Yaounde I

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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