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Gansane A, Lingani M, Yeka A, Nahum A, Bouyou-Akotet M, Mombo-Ngoma G, Kaguthi G, Barceló C, Laurijssens B, Cantalloube C, Macintyre F, Djeriou E, Jessel A, Bejuit R, Demarest H, Marrast AC, Debe S, Tinto H, Kibuuka A, Nahum D, Mawili-Mboumba DP, Zoleko-Manego R, Mugenya I, Olewe F, Duparc S, Ogutu B. Randomized, open-label, phase 2a study to evaluate the contribution of artefenomel to the clinical and parasiticidal activity of artefenomel plus ferroquine in African patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Malar J 2023; 22:2. [PMID: 36597076 PMCID: PMC9809015 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04420-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The contribution of artefenomel to the clinical and parasiticidal activity of ferroquine and artefenomel in combination in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria was investigated. METHODS This Phase 2a, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was conducted from 11th September 2018 to 6th November 2019 across seven centres in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Kenya, and Uganda. Patients aged ≥ 14-69 years with microscopically confirmed infection (≥ 3000 to ≤ 50,000 parasites/µL blood) were randomized 1:1:1:1 to 400 mg ferroquine, or 400 mg ferroquine plus artefenomel 300, 600, or 1000 mg, administered as a single oral dose. The primary efficacy analysis was a logistic regression evaluating the contribution of artefenomel exposure to Day 28 PCR-adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR). Safety was also evaluated. RESULTS The randomized population included 140 patients. For the primary analysis in the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic efficacy population (N = 121), the contribution of artefenomel AUC0-∞ to Day 28 PCR-adjusted ACPR was not demonstrated when accounting for ferroquine AUC0-d28, baseline parasitaemia, and other model covariates: odds ratio 1.1 (95% CI 0.98, 1.2; P = 0.245). In the per-protocol population, Day 28 PCR-adjusted ACPR was 80.8% (21/26; 95% CI 60.6, 93.4) with ferroquine alone and 90.3% (28/31; 95% CI 74.2, 98.0), 90.9% (30/33; 95% CI 75.7, 98.1) and 87.1% (27/31; 95% CI 70.2, 96.4) with 300, 600, and 1000 mg artefenomel, respectively. Median time to parasite clearance (Kaplan-Meier) was 56.1 h with ferroquine, more rapid with artefenomel, but similar for all doses (30.0 h). There were no deaths. Adverse events (AEs) of any cause occurred in 51.4% (18/35) of patients with ferroquine 400 mg alone, and 58.3% (21/36), 66.7% (24/36), and 72.7% (24/33) with 300, 600, and 1000 mg artefenomel, respectively. All AEs were of mild-to-moderate severity, and consistent with the known profiles of the compounds. Vomiting was the most reported AE. There were no cases of QTcF prolongation ≥ 500 ms or > 60 ms from baseline. CONCLUSION The contribution of artefenomel exposure to the clinical and parasitological activity of ferroquine/artefenomel could not be demonstrated in this study. Parasite clearance was faster with ferroquine/artefenomel versus ferroquine alone. All treatments were well tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03660839 (7 September, 2018).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adama Gansane
- grid.507461.10000 0004 0413 3193Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme (CNRFP), 01 BP 220801 BP 2208 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Moussa Lingani
- grid.457337.10000 0004 0564 0509Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé - Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro (IRSS-URCN), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Adoke Yeka
- grid.463352.50000 0004 8340 3103Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alain Nahum
- Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Marielle Bouyou-Akotet
- grid.502965.dDépartement de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine – Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
- grid.452268.fCentre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon ,Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Grace Kaguthi
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research (KEMRI-CRDR), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Catalina Barceló
- grid.452605.00000 0004 0432 5267Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Fiona Macintyre
- grid.452605.00000 0004 0432 5267Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Helen Demarest
- grid.452605.00000 0004 0432 5267Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anne Claire Marrast
- grid.452605.00000 0004 0432 5267Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Siaka Debe
- grid.507461.10000 0004 0413 3193Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme (CNRFP), 01 BP 220801 BP 2208 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Halidou Tinto
- grid.457337.10000 0004 0564 0509Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé - Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro (IRSS-URCN), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Afizi Kibuuka
- grid.463352.50000 0004 8340 3103Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Diolinda Nahum
- Centre de Recherches Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Denise Patricia Mawili-Mboumba
- grid.502965.dDépartement de Parasitologie-Mycologie-Médecine Tropicale, Faculté de Médecine – Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Rella Zoleko-Manego
- grid.452268.fCentre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Gabon ,Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany ,grid.10392.390000 0001 2190 1447Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irene Mugenya
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Kenya Medical Research Institute-Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research (KEMRI-CRDR), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Frederick Olewe
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya ,grid.442494.b0000 0000 9430 1509Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES), Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stephan Duparc
- grid.452605.00000 0004 0432 5267Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bernhards Ogutu
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya ,grid.442494.b0000 0000 9430 1509Centre for Research in Therapeutic Sciences (CREATES), Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
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Collins KA, Abd-Rahman AN, Marquart L, Ballard E, Gobeau N, Griffin P, Chalon S, Möhrle JJ, McCarthy JS. Antimalarial activity of artefenomel against asexual parasites and transmissible gametocytes during experimental blood-stage Plasmodium vivax infection. J Infect Dis 2020; 225:1062-1069. [PMID: 32479608 PMCID: PMC8922009 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interventions that effectively target Plasmodium vivax are critical for the future control and elimination of malaria. We conducted a P. vivax volunteer infection study to characterize the antimalarial activity of artefenomel, a new drug candidate. Methods Eight healthy, malaria-naive participants were intravenously inoculated with blood-stage P. vivax and subsequently received a single oral 200-mg dose of artefenomel. Blood samples were collected to monitor the development and clearance of parasitemia, and plasma artefenomel concentration. Mosquito feeding assays were conducted before artefenomel dosing to investigate parasite transmissibility. Results Initial parasite clearance occurred in all participants after artefenomel administration (log10 parasite reduction ratio over 48 hours, 1.67; parasite clearance half-life, 8.67 hours). Recrudescence occurred in 7 participants 11–14 days after dosing. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.62 ng/mL and minimum parasiticidal concentration that achieves 90% of maximum effect of 0.83 ng/mL were estimated, and a single 300-mg dose was predicted to clear 109 parasites per milliliter with 95% certainty. Gametocytemia developed in all participants and was cleared 4–8 days after dosing. At peak gametocytemia, 75% of participants were infectious to mosquitoes. Conclusions The in vivo antimalarial activity of artefenomel supports its further clinical development as a treatment for P. vivax malaria. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02573857.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Louise Marquart
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston QLD, Australia
| | - Emma Ballard
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston QLD, Australia
| | - Nathalie Gobeau
- Medicine for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois, Meyrin, Switzerland
| | - Paul Griffin
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, Australia.,Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Mater Hospital and Mater Research, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane QLD, Australia
| | - Stephan Chalon
- Medicine for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois, Meyrin, Switzerland
| | - Jörg J Möhrle
- Medicine for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois, Meyrin, Switzerland
| | - James S McCarthy
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD, Australia
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Ristroph KD, Feng J, McManus SA, Zhang Y, Gong K, Ramachandruni H, White CE, Prud'homme RK. Spray drying OZ439 nanoparticles to form stable, water-dispersible powders for oral malaria therapy. J Transl Med 2019; 17:97. [PMID: 30902103 PMCID: PMC6431012 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1849-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background OZ439 is a new chemical entity which is active against drug-resistant malaria and shows potential as a single-dose cure. However, development of an oral formulation with desired exposure has proved problematic, as OZ439 is poorly soluble (BCS Class II drug). In order to be feasible for low and middle income countries (LMICs), any process to create or formulate such a therapeutic must be inexpensive at scale, and the resulting formulation must survive without refrigeration even in hot, humid climates. We here demonstrate the scalability and stability of a nanoparticle (NP) formulation of OZ439. Previously, we applied a combination of hydrophobic ion pairing and Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) to formulate OZ439 NPs 150 nm in diameter using the inexpensive stabilizer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS). Lyophilization was used to process the NPs into a dry form, and the powder’s in vitro solubilization was over tenfold higher than unprocessed OZ439. Methods In this study, we optimize our previous formulation using a large-scale multi-inlet vortex mixer (MIVM). Spray drying is a more scalable and less expensive operation than lyophilization and is, therefore, optimized to produce dry powders. The spray dried powders are then subjected to a series of accelerated aging stability trials at high temperature and humidity conditions. Results The spray dried OZ439 powder’s dissolution kinetics are superior to those of lyophilized NPs. The powder’s OZ439 solubilization profile remains constant after 1 month in uncapped vials in an oven at 50 °C and 75% RH, and for 6 months in capped vials at 40 °C and 75% RH. In fasted-state intestinal fluid, spray dried NPs achieved 80–85% OZ439 dissolution, to a concentration of 430 µg/mL, within 3 h. In fed-state intestinal fluid, 95–100% OZ439 dissolution is achieved within 1 h, to a concentration of 535 µg/mL. X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry profiles similarly remain constant over these periods. Conclusions The combined nanofabrication and drying process described herein, which utilizes two continuous unit operations that can be operated at scale, is an important step toward an industrially-relevant method of formulating the antimalarial OZ439 into a single-dose oral form with good stability against humidity and temperature. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-019-1849-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt D Ristroph
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Jie Feng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Simon A McManus
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Yingyue Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Kai Gong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA.,Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Hanu Ramachandruni
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Meyrin, Switzerland
| | - Claire E White
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA.,Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Robert K Prud'homme
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08854, USA.
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Macintyre F, Adoke Y, Tiono AB, Duong TT, Mombo-Ngoma G, Bouyou-Akotet M, Tinto H, Bassat Q, Issifou S, Adamy M, Demarest H, Duparc S, Leroy D, Laurijssens BE, Biguenet S, Kibuuka A, Tshefu AK, Smith M, Foster C, Leipoldt I, Kremsner PG, Phuc BQ, Ouedraogo A, Ramharter M. A randomised, double-blind clinical phase II trial of the efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a single dose combination treatment with artefenomel and piperaquine in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. BMC Med 2017; 15:181. [PMID: 28988541 PMCID: PMC5632828 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0940-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical development of a single encounter treatment for uncomplicated malaria has the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of antimalarials. Exploratory data suggested that the combination of artefenomel and piperaquine phosphate (PQP) has the potential to achieve satisfactory cure rates as a single dose therapy. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether a single dose of artefenomel (800 mg) plus PQP in ascending doses is an efficacious treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the 'target' population of children ≤ 5 years of age in Africa as well as Asian patients of all ages. METHODS Patients in six African countries and in Vietnam were randomised to treatment with follow-up for 42-63 days. Efficacy, tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics were assessed. Additional key objectives were to characterise the exposure-response relationship for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response at day 28 post-dose (ACPR28) and to further investigate Kelch13 mutations. Patients in Africa (n = 355) and Vietnam (n = 82) were included, with 85% of the total population being children < 5 years of age. RESULTS ACPR28 in the per protocol population (95% confidence interval) was 70.8% (61.13-79.19), 68.4% (59.13-76.66) and 78.6% (70.09-85.67) for doses of 800 mg artefenomel with 640 mg, 960 mg and 1440 mg of PQP respectively. ACPR28 was lower in Vietnamese than in African patients (66.2%; 54.55-76.62 and 74.5%; 68.81-79.68) respectively. Within the African population, efficacy was lowest in the youngest age group of ≥ 0.5 to ≤ 2 years, 52.7% (38.80-66.35). Initial parasite clearance was twice as long in Vietnam than in Africa. Within Vietnam, the frequency of the Kelch13 mutation was 70.1% and was clearly associated with parasite clearance half-life (PCt1/2). The most significant tolerability finding was vomiting (28.8%). CONCLUSIONS In this first clinical trial evaluating a single encounter antimalarial therapy, none of the treatment arms reached the target efficacy of > 95% PCR-adjusted ACPR at day 28. Achieving very high efficacy following single dose treatment is challenging, since > 95% of the population must have sufficient concentrations to achieve cure across a range of parasite sensitivities and baseline parasitaemia levels. While challenging, the development of tools suitable for deployment as single encounter curative treatments for adults and children in Africa and to support elimination strategies remains a key development goal. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02083380 . Registered on 7 March 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yeka Adoke
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Tororo Hospital, Tororo, Uganda
| | - Alfred B Tiono
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Tran Thanh Duong
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.,Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Universite des Sciences de la Sante Gabon, Département de Parasitology, Malaria Clinical and Operational Research Unit, Melen Hospital, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Marielle Bouyou-Akotet
- Universite des Sciences de la Sante Gabon, Département de Parasitology, Malaria Clinical and Operational Research Unit, Melen Hospital, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Halidou Tinto
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé - Unité de Recherche Clinique de Nanoro, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Saadou Issifou
- Centre de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et l'Enfance, Faculte Des Sciences De La Sante, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Marc Adamy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Afizi Kibuuka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Tororo Hospital, Tororo, Uganda
| | - Antoinette Kitoto Tshefu
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de Mont Amba, Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Melnick Smith
- QuintilesIMS, Department: Biostatistics, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Chanelle Foster
- QuintilesIMS, Department: Biostatistics, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Illse Leipoldt
- QuintilesIMS, Department: Biostatistics, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Peter G Kremsner
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.,Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bui Quang Phuc
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Alphonse Ouedraogo
- Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Michael Ramharter
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon. .,Institut für Tropenmedizin, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Department of Medicine I, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. .,Bernhard Nocht Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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