Methylene Blue Against Vivax Malaria in Ethiopia

NCT ID: NCT02696928

Last Updated: 2020-03-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: WITHDRAWN
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2018-01-31

Brief Summary

Feasibility of methylene blue-based combination therapy in the radical treatment of adult patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria in Ethiopia: a randomised controlled pilot trial

Study rationale:

Elimination has become the goal of malaria programmes in an increasing number of endemic countries and regions. Primaquine (PQ) is the only registered drug for radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Prolonged PQ-based combination therapy carries safety concerns and resistance to chloroquine (CQ) and PQ is emerging. Methylene blue (MB) has recently been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in West Africa. As there is evidence for MB probably being effective against the hypnozoites of Plasmodium vivax, MB-based drug regimens could be an alternative to PQ-based combination therapy in Plasmodium vivax malaria.

Study objectives:

The main objective of this trial is to study the feasibility of MB-based combination therapy in patients with uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in an endemic area of Ethiopia.

Detailed Description

The specific aims are (1) to test the feasibility and costs of methods and procedures for later use of MB-based combination therapy on a large scale, (2) to assess the safety of MB-based combination therapy, (3) to estimate the efficacy of MB-based combination therapy against malaria relapse, (4) to study the community acceptance of MB-based combination therapy, and (5) to strengthen the local capacity for malaria research and control in Jimma/Ethiopia.

Study design:

The study is designed as a pilot trial in adult patients with uncomplicated P. vivax malaria in Jimma, Ethiopia. Patients will be randomised to three treatment groups:

1. Arthemeter/Lumefantrine (AL)

2. AL-PQ, and

3. AL-MB. Follow-up will be over a period of 6 months.

Study population:

Adult patients with uncomplicated P. vivax malaria (age ≥18 years) in Jimma/Ethiopia (G6PD deficient subjects are excluded) will become enrolled in the outpatient departments of the study centres. The sample size will be 33 per study arm, a total of 99 patients.

Study treatments:

• AL standard treatments twice daily (total of 80 mg/dose A plus 480 mg/dose L) over first three study days
• PQ 15 mg once daily for 14 days
• MB 780 mg once daily for 14 days Treatments will be 100% directly observed.

Study outcomes:

Outcome parameters will be on feasibility and costs (e.g. recruitment rates, retention rates, costs per patient), on safety parameters (e.g. haemoglobin development during follow-up, incidence of adverse events), on efficacy parameters (e.g. incidence of P. vivax relapse during follow-up, malaria recurrence-free efficacy until day 180), and on community acceptance (e.g. perceptions on blue urine) during follow-up.

Conditions

Vivax Malaria

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Artemeter-Lumefantrine (combination therapy)

33 patients

(standard of care)

Group Type: OTHER

Artemeter-Lumefantrine (combination therapy)

Intervention Type: DRUG

AL first 3 days

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and Primaquine (combination therapy)

33 patients

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and Primaquine (combination therapy)

Intervention Type: DRUG

AL first 3 days PQ next 14 days

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and MB (combination therapy)

33 patients

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and MB (combination therapy)

Intervention Type: DRUG

AL first 3 days MB next 14 days

Interventions

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and MB (combination therapy)

AL first 3 days MB next 14 days

Intervention Type: DRUG

Artemeter-Lumefantrine (combination therapy)

AL first 3 days

Intervention Type: DRUG

Artemeter-Lumefantrine and Primaquine (combination therapy)

AL first 3 days PQ next 14 days

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

3,7-bis(Dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride; CID 6099; AL; AL and PQ

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Uncomplicated P. vivax monoinfection (asexual parasite count >250/µl)
• Axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C or history of fever during last 48 hours
• Ability to tolerate oral drug therapy
• Written informed consent of patient
• Permanent residence in the study area

Exclusion Criteria

• Therapy with an antimalarial (e.g. CQ, amodiaquine, pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine, quinine, any ACT) or an antibiotic which is effective against malaria parasites (e.g. doxycyclin, clindamycin, CoTrim) during last three weeks
• Mixed malaria infection
• Clinical danger signals (e.g. unable to stand or to sit, unable to drink, repeated vomiting, convulsions) or signs and symptoms of severe malaria (according to WHO definition)
• Known other serious illnesses (e.g. cardiac, renal, hepatic, pulmonary disease, severe malnutrition, severe infectious diseases)
• G6PD deficiency (<60% activity, WHO classification 1-3)
• Patients with known allergy to one or more of the study drugs
• Hemoglobin value <7 g/dL
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Jimma University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Heidelberg University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Olaf Mueller

Prof. Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Olaf Müller, Prof. Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Heidelberg University

Other Identifiers

UniHD007

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id