Azithromycin Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Malaria

Medical University of Vienna

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Falciparum Malaria

Treatments: Drug: Artesunate; Drug: Azithromycin + Artesunate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01374126

PR-11019

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of azithromycin combination therapy for use in severe malaria. This pilot trial will be conducted in uncomplicated malaria patients in southeastern Bangladesh.

Enrollment: 75 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Male and female participants with a diagnosis of acute falciparum malaria meeting all criteria listed below may be included in the study:

1. Acute symptomatic falciparum malaria infection with a parasite density of 100 to 100,000 asexual parasites/uL as determined on the screening smear with fever (defined as ≥37.5ºC), or reported history of fever within the last 48 hours.
2. Age: 8-65 years old
3. Males or females. All females over the age of 12 are required to have a negative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy test (urine). All females of childbearing potential (not surgically sterile, or less than two years menopausal) are required to use an acceptable method of contraception, such as implant, injectable, oral contraceptive(s) with additional barrier contraception, intrauterine device, sexual abstinence, or vasectomized partner, throughout the study
4. Written informed consent obtained
5. Willing to stay under close medical supervision for the study duration
6. Otherwise healthy outpatients

Exclusion criteria

Participants presenting with any of the following will not be included in the study:

1. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, or women of childbearing potential who do not use an acceptable method of contraception (as described in Inclusion Criteria, #3)
2. Mixed malaria infection on admission by malaria smear
3. A previous history of intolerance or hypersensitivity to the study drugs artesunate, azithromycin or to drugs with similar chemical structures
4. Malaria drug therapy administered in the past 30 days by history
5. History of significant cardiovascular, liver or renal functional abnormality or any other clinically significant illness, which in the opinion of the investigator would place them at increased risk.
6. Symptoms of severe vomiting (no food or inability to take food during the previous 8 hours).
7. Signs or symptoms of severe malaria (as defined by WHO 2003)
8. Unable and/or unlikely to comprehend and/or follow the protocol

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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75 participants in 2 patient groups

Azithromycin-Artesunate

Experimental group

Treatment:

Drug: Azithromycin + Artesunate

Control (artesunate alone)

Active Comparator group

Treatment:

Drug: Artesunate