There are about 69 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Gabon. 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.
The main objective is to compare the safety and efficacy of 4 artemisinin-based combinations (ACT) [amodiaquine-artesunate (AQ+AS), dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAPQ), artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and chlorproguanil/dapsone plus artesunate] for single and repeat treatments of uncomplicated malaria in children. Safety will be determined by registering adverse events and grading, laboratory, and vital signs evaluations. Their incidence will be compared between the different study arms. TO BE NOTED: following GlaxoSmithKline decision to discontinue the clinical development of the fixed-doses combination of Lapdap (Chlorproguanil-Dapsone) and artesunate, the Lapdap plus Artesunate arm was immediately discontinued in this study, on 17th February 2008. A formal amendment has been submitted to all the concerned ECs and competent authorities. The leading EC approved the amendment on 2nd June 2008. TO BE NOTED: since the batches of the study drug DHAPQ expire at the end of October 2008, and because of the unavailability of a new batch of DHAPQ from the manufacturer, the recruitment in the DHAPQ arm had to be discontinued on 30th October 2008. A formal amendment has been submitted to all the concerned ECs and competent authorities.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate three dose levels of a combination tablet and a fixed dose granule formulation of pyronaridine and artesunate (PA) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria in children.
GSK Biologicals is developing a number of candidate malaria vaccines for the routine immunization of infants and children living in malaria-endemic areas. The candidate vaccines are designed to offer protection against malaria disease due to the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Candidate vaccines containing the RTS,S antigen would also provide protection against infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study will evaluate two candidate vaccines. The Protocol Posting has been updated in order to comply with the FDA Amendment Act, Sep 2007.
Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Africa is increasingly difficult. Resistance to cheap efficient antimalarial drugs poses an increasing threat. The rapid emergence of resistance to sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine, already seen in East Africa is growing and is likely to have an striking impact on mortality in many other African regions where no obvious alternatives are available. WHO recommends the use of drug combinations containing artemisinin compounds, i.e., artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT). Previous clinical trials have shown that the combination of artesunate with mefloquine is highly effective and well tolerated in the treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria, retaining the benefit of rapidity of action while augmenting cure rates, and apparently slowing the development of mefloquine resistance. Compliance with sequential combination regimen of antimalarial drugs is notoriously poor. Therefore, in order to limit the development of resistance to both drugs and ameliorate patients' compliance to antimalarial treatments, an optimal simultaneous combination regimen of artesunate and mefloquine in a practical single blister pack has been developed by Mepha Ltd. and successfully tested. The currently available
Some antibiotics are also effective against malaria parasites. Fosmidomycin is an antibiotic that has been shown to be effective against malaria, although it cannot achieve a total cure in all patients. A previous small study has shown that in combination with clindamycin, an commonly used antibiotic, it is highly effective and safe, in asymptomatic carriers of malaria parasites. The current study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination given for three days in children with uncomplicated malaria in Gabon.
There is a necessity for the development of new malaria drugs. Some antibiotics are also effective against malaria parasites. Fosmidomycin is an antibiotic that has been shown to be effective against malaria, although it cannot achieve a total cure in all patients. Previous small studies have shown that in combination with clindamycin, an commonly used antibiotic, it is highly effective and safe when given for three days, leading to a total cure in most patients. The current study will evaluate its efficacy in a larger population in Gabon, and compare its effect with the generally used drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.
The general goal of the project is to assess the infectious status and immunity of mothers and children living in a malaria region. A major part of the study involves administering an effective antimalarial, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (Fansidar®), to children at the same timepoints as vaccinations, i.e. at age 3, 9 and 15 months. The main objective is to study safety, efficacy, and consequences of such a strategy in particular the ability to reduce the risk of anemia.
Quinine remains the treatment of choice of hospitalised malaria cases. The long treatment duration of 7 days, and adverse reactions often hamper its adequate use. Reducing the treatment duration by adding sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine may enhance compliance and reduce side effects. The efficacy of a 3-day treatment of quinine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the treatment of hospitalised, uncomplicated malaria cases was assessed.
Drugs to treat fever are widely used in children with fever. But there is a controversy about the benefit of reducing fever in children with malaria. Ibuprofen is often used to treat malarial fever. This study evaluates the capacity of ibuprofen to reduce fever in malaria. The effect of ibuprofen on fever compared to only mechanical measures is investigated in children with malaria.