Clinical Trial: Efficacy of Artemether-lumefantrine, Artesunate-amodiaquine and Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in Malawi

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Efficacy and Safety of the Dispersible Formulation of Artemether-lumefantrine, Co-formulated Artesunate-amodiaquine and Co-formulated Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated

Brief Summary:

Background: Malaria is a cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in Malawi. Prompt and effective treatment of uncomplicated malaria remains a key strategy to reduce the public health burden of malaria. Due to the rising resistance to and falling efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, the first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria from 1993 to 2007, the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) revised the national treatment guidelines in 2007. The revised treatment guidelines recommend artemether-lumefantrine as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria and artesunate-amodiaquine as a second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. The change in policy was based primarily on efficacy data from other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. However, although both artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine have been in use in Malawi since 2007, there are relatively few studies assessing their efficacy. In a study conducted in 2004-2006 in Blantyre, artemether-lumefantrine was found to be efficacious.1 In addition, a more recent assessment of artemether-lumefantrine in vivo efficacy conducted in six sites in Malawi in 2009 also suggests that the standard formulation artemether-lumefantrine remains highly efficacious (Kamija Phiri, personal communication).

Although, some Malawi-specific data on the in vivo efficacy of the standard formulation of artemether-lumefantrine exists, there are additional data that is needed to support the current policy and inform future policy decisions. In 2010 the NMCP has introduced the dispersible formulation of artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem-D™) for use as a first-line antimalarial in Malawi, due to the global unavailability of the standard formulation of artemether-lumefantrine from Novartis, the key supplier of the standard formulation of artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem™) in Malawi. In light of these developmen

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Current Primary Outcome: Adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) [ Time Frame: 42 days ]

Absence of parasitaemia on day 42, irrespective of axillary temperature, in patients who did not previously meet any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure or late parasitological failure.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dates:
Date Received: March 30, 2011
Date Started: August 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 21, 2013
Last Verified: February 2013