There are about 620 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Bangladesh. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was formally notified about a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan City, China. On 7 January the responsible virus was isolated and its genome sequence was shared on 12 January. It was named as COVID-19, a novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. It is a member of the Corona virus family which is RNA enveloped viruses. Very rapidly the virus emerged as pandemic. Now it is dominating the lives of every people of this universe. Management of the COVID-19 relies on mainly supportive care and oxygen supplementation via non-invasive or mechanical ventilation in critical cases. Patients who are critically ill may also require vasopressor support and antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. There is no vaccine or highly effective antiviral drugs for COVID-19. Currently there is a tremendous effort around the world to develop effective preventive and therapeutic treatment for this disease. World Health Organization has launched a non-blinded clinical trial (SOLIDARITY) to evaluate four candidate treatments (remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir/ interferon beta-1a, and chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine) versus standard of care in 18 countries worldwide. RECOVERY trial one of the largest trials to see the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine revealed that they are no clear cut clinical benefit for COVID-19. Other drugs in the SOLIDARTY trial are quite expansive for resource limited countries like Bangladesh. Study Published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine advocates further research into Ivermectin for COVID-19 Treatment. The spotlight on Ivermectin was brought by Australian researchers from Monash University who demonstrated its efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in vitro studies. In different study Doxycycline also showed promising results in treatment of COVID 19 infection. It is highly lipophilic antibiotics that are known to chelate zinc component of matrix metalloprotienases (MMP). Corona viruses are known to rely heavily of MMPs for survival, cell infiltration and replication. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect which might be effective in combating cytokine storm of Covid-19 infection. So it have been planned to conduct an experimental clinical trial using combination of ivermectin and doxycycline for treatment of COVID 19 along with the other standard care.
This study evaluates the effect of two different airtime incentive timings on interactive voice response (IVR) survey cooperation, response, refusal and contact rates, as compared to a control group, in Bangladesh and Uganda.
Title: The Neurobehavioral and Biochemical Effects of High Does of Vitamin B6 with Magnesium in Children with Autism spectrum Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study. Purpose of the Study: This study aims to examine the effect of higher doses of vitamin B6-magnesium combination in modification of urinary homovanillic acid excretion and improving behavioral sign symptoms in a newly diagnosed autistic children. Method: This study will be a randomized,double blind placebo controlled trial to assess the effects of high dose of vitamin B6 with magnesium upon autistic children. This study will be conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Institute of Pediatric Neurodisorder and Autism (IPNA) in between July 2019 to July 2020. A total 66 newly diagnosed autistic children will be selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients will be divided randomly into 2 groups: Intervention group and Control group. Intervention group will consist of 33 patients who will receive vitamin B6-magnesium along with standard care of treatment for three months. Vitamin B6 will be given 150 mg for ages 2-3 years, 200 mg for ages 4-6 years, 300 mg for ages 7-8 years and Magnesium will be given 50 mg 2-4 years, 100 mg for ages 4-8 years. Control group consist of 33 patients who will receive placebo in the same manners along with standard care of treatment for three months. To see the effects of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium, Autism Spectrum Disorder would be assessed by Autism Diagnostic Checklist (ADCL) at baseline and three months after intervention. Urinary homovanillic acid level would also be performed at baseline and three months after intervention. Ethical consideration: The study will follow the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and of the World Medical Assembly. Parents of the patient will be informed about the study in easy language and then informed written consent will be taken. This study has no potential risk to the patients. Confidentiality will be strictly maintained.
This planned randomized controlled trial will evaluate a bivalent HPV vaccine, Cecolin®, in alternate 2-dose regimens, compared to an established HPV vaccine. Gardasil® used as the comparator vaccine, as this vaccine is most widely used in low- and low-middle income countries.
This study focuses on mechanisms to adapt the performance of interactive voice response (IVR) and computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) surveys conducted in low-and middle-income (LMIC) setting (Bangladesh) and evaluates how the two survey modalities (IVR and CATI) affect survey metrics, including response, completion and attrition rates.
This study is aimed to investigate the effect of Famotidine in the clinical recovery of COVID-19 patients. COVID19 is a worldwide pandemic. Hence SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus; there is no specific medication against it. Like other countries of the world, Besides antiviral drugs, immunosuppressive agents, and symptomatic therapy like H2 receptor blocker FAMOTIDINE came to the limelight due to its role in reducing the symptoms of COVID-19 patients. The study will include COVID-19 participants to confirm by RT PCR or an HRCT chest. Detail history of each participant with comorbidity will be taken and will be examined carefully. The hospitalized patients admitted to the HDU/ICU units will be enrolled in this study. Critically ill patients who require ventilator support will not be included in this study. The outcome of the Famotidine treatment will be evaluated and compared with a control group.
Title: Effect of zinc supplementation on depression in SSRIs-treated MDD patients. Purpose: Depression is the single largest contributor to global disability as has been ranked by WHO (2015), in humans including both male and female.Studies have suggested that conventional presently available anti-depressive medicines are effective for one third to one-half (19-34%) of the patients suffering from depression, leaving the rest of patients to suffer from recurrence or incomplete cure. Researchers throughout the world are involved to obtain new pharmacotherapy for the treatment of MDD. Zinc is an important micronutrient of the human body which is implicated as an essential component in various systemic wellbeing including the central nervous system. Methods: The study would be randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective interventional trial and it would be conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, BSMMU, from date of approval by the IRB to August 2020. A total of 100 patients suffering from mild to moderate major depression will be selected following to inclusion and exclusion criteria and serum Zinc levels will be assessed. The diagnosis of patients suffering from MDD and the selection of drugs and dosage would be performed by a senior professor of the Psychiatry department. After completing the necessary formalities including the informed consent of the patients, the patient would undergo a selected questionnaire (DASS-21) to assess his/her degree of severity of the disease. The patients would be randomly allocated into two groups: group A (control group) and B (intervention group). Group A would consist of 50 patients who will receive a placebo with SSRIs for 8 weeks. Group B would consist of 50 patients who will receive SSRIs plus Zinc sulfate (30mg/day) orally for 8 weeks, after which at follow up, the severity of depression will be assessed. The blood sample will be collected to measure serum zinc level at baseline and again after 8 weeks of therapeutic intervention. Ethical consideration The study will follow the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and of the World Medical Assembly. Patients will be informed about the study in easy language and then informed consent will be taken. The study has no potential risk to the patients. Confidentiality will be strictly maintained.
1. Burden: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) characterized by skin rash in extremities, mouth ulcer and fever among <5 years children.Primarily caused by Enterovirus- predominantly human Enterovirus (EV) 71 and Coxsackie virus (CoxA). Several large epidemics have been reported worldwide.Large Asia-Pacific epidemic-in China in 2008, approximately 490,000 infections and 126 deaths of children. EV71 contributes severe and fatal cases e.g. encephalitis.A recent outbreak of HFMD in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in India indicates there is a chance of HFMD outbreaks in Bangladesh. However there is not much report of HFMD from Bangladesh. 2. Knowledge gap: EV71 is most commonly transmitted via close person-to-person contact. Since there is no known effective treatment for HFMD and as the causative virus is highly contagious, hand washing is the best defense for prevention. However, asymptomatic or mild nature of the infection leads to ineffectiveness of public health interventions like hand washing. Thus the symptomatic management remains the mainstay of treatment strategy for HFMD as of now. EV71 vaccine, an inactivated vaccine, developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd has shown satisfactory safety and effectiveness through Phase III trials conducted in various regions of mainland China, This new vaccine has the potential to significantly reduce suffering and death from EV71 disease in China. However, it is not assessed on Bangladeshi child. 3. Relevance: Due to the absence of effective public health strategy and proper treatment, the development of an effective vaccine may be the best way to control EV71 infection.
COVID19 is a worldwide pandemic. Hence SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus; there is no specific medication against it. Like other countries of the world, Bangladesh is also struggling in the case of treatment of this disease. Besides antiviral drugs other existing drugs like Hydroxychloroquine, Chloroquine, and recently Ivermectin has been used for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of COVID19 disease. Till now Hydroxychloroquine has shown a good effect. Recently anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin was found highly effective in an in-vitro study against SARS-CoV-2. This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine as a combination therapy with antibiotics (Doxycyclin and Azithromycin) and compare the recovery period of these two drugs applied as core monotherapy.
Burden: Initial outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported from Wuhan, China in early December 2019.Presently known to be caused by a novel beta-corona virus, named as Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2). World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic on March. The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, dyspnoea and pneumonia Infected individuals exhibit: 1. Mostly mild illness (80% +) recover without any treatment (~80%) 2. Moderate illness that needs hospitalization and recovers after standard 3. supportive treatment (~14%) 4. Critical illness (~5%) needs ICU support 5. Death (1-2% ) COVID-19 has now spread >210 countries and territories globally. SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generalized when an infected person coughs or sneezes or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. Symptomatic management remains the mainstay of treatment strategy. Mortality appears to be more common in older individuals and those with co-morbidities, such as chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Young people with no comorbidities also appear to be at risk for critical illness including multi-organ failure and death. Seen more in Bangladesh between 21-40 yrs of age. Knowledge Gap: There is no specific treatment against this new virus that WHO has officially declared until now.There are many pharmacologic therapies that are being used or considered for treatment of COVID-19. National Guidelines on Clinical Management of Corona virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): V 5.0 date 9th April 2020) CDC, DGHS, GoB Thus an RCT is urgently needed in Bangladesh: Based on recent literatures on Rx studies in COVID-19 patients from other countries as well as its availability & affordability of those repurposed medicines