Efficacy and safety of ivermectin against Trichuris trichiura

ISRCTN ISRCTN15871729
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15871729
Secondary identifying numbers 1.02
Submission date
19/05/2017
Registration date
19/05/2017
Last edited
13/03/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Parasitic worms are organisms that live in the intestine and feed off their living hosts. They are among the most common type of infections worldwide, especially in poor and deprived communities. They are spread by eggs present in human faeces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor. An infection can cause malnutrition, physical and mental retardation, and reduced work performance in older age. Few drugs are available which are widely used in the treatment of parasitic worm infections and drug resistance is a growing problem. Ivermectin (a medication used to treat a range of parasitic worm infections), may be useful when used in combination with other medications. The aim of this study is to find the best dose of ivermectin to use in the treatment of parasitic worm infections.

Who can participate?
Adults, pre-school children and school age children with a parasitic worm infection.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive a single dose of a placebo (dummy drug). Those in the second group receive a single dose of ivermectin. The dose will vary depending on the age of the participant. 21 days after receiving the treatment, participants provide a stool sample which is then tested for signs of parasitic worm eggs. Participants are also interviewed before treatment, 3, 24, and 72 hours after treatment about whether they have experienced any side effects.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All participants will benefit from a clinical examination and a treatment against parasitic worm infections. In addition, all participants who do not respond to treatment will receive treatment with a different drug (according to WHO recommendations). Ivermectin is a well-known, widely used drug and has very few, mild side effects. Therefore there are no significant risks involved with taking part.

Where is the study run from?
Hôpital Méthodiste de Dabou (Cote d’Ivoire)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2017 to December 2017

Who is funding the study?
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (USA)

Who is the main contact?
Professor Jennifer Keiser
jennifer.keiser@unibas.ch

Contact information

Prof Jennifer Keiser
Scientific

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Socinstrasse 57
Basel
4051
Switzerland

Phone +41 (0)612 848 218
Email jennifer.keiser@unibas.ch

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleEfficacy and safety of ascending dosages of ivermectin against Trichuris trichiura in preschool- and school-aged children: a randomized controlled trial
Study objectivesStudy aims:
1. To determine pharmacokinetic parameters in 10 adult patients infected with T. trichiura using whole blood, plasma, dried blood spots (DBS) and Mitra® allowing the determination of the best microsampling technology.
2. To compare the efficacy and safety of oral ivermectin dosages: i) 100 µg/kg and ii) 200 µg/kg versus iii) placebo in preschoolers infected with T. trichiura and to measure ivermectin disposition using a microsampling technology (DBS or Mitra®).
3. To compare the efficacy and safety of oral ivermectin dosages: i) 200 µg/kg ii) 400 µg/kg and iii) 600 µg/kg versus vi.) placebo in school-aged children infected with T. trichiura and to measure ivermectin disposition using a microsampling technology (DBS or Mitra®).
Ethics approval(s)1. Ethics committee of Northwestern and Central Switzerland (EKNZ), 20/03/2017, ref: 2017-00250
2. Ministere de la Sante et de l'hygiene publique, comite national d'ethique de la recherche, 17/04/2017, ref: 052/fMSHP/CNER-kp
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTrichuris infection
InterventionStudy participants eligible for treatment will be randomly assigned to receive single, oral doses of placebo or ivermectin using a computer-generated stratified block randomization code. The random allocation sequence with varying random blocks will be provided by a statistician. The following doses of ivermectin will be used:

Adults: 0.2 μg/kg ivermectin
Preschoolers: 0.1 and 0.2 μg/kg ivermectin
School-aged children: 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 μg/kg ivermectin

The treatment will be administered on one day only and follow up will be conducted for all treatment arms 21 days after treatment.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Ivermectin
Primary outcome measureCure rate (CR) (conversion from being egg positive pre-treatment to egg negative post-treatment) for Trichuris infection will be assessed using the quadruple Kato-Katz method at 21 days post-treatment.
Secondary outcome measures1. Egg reduction rate for Trichuris infection will be assessed using the quadruple Kato-Katz method at 21 days post-treatment
2. Cure rate and egg reduction rate for concomitant soil-transmitted helminth infections will be assessed using the quadruple Kato-Katz method at 21 days post-treatment
3. Safety will be assessed with evaluation of adverse events of the treated subjects based on interviews at 3, 24, and 72 hours after treatment
4. Pharmacokinetic parameters: drug concentrations will be measured with a validated LC/MS method at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 24, 48 and 72 hours post treatment
Overall study start date01/01/2017
Completion date31/12/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupMixed
SexBoth
Target number of participants290
Key inclusion criteria1. Written informed consent signed by either participating PK patient or for the study involving children parents and/or caregiver; and oral assent by child (aged 6-12 years)
2. Able and willing to be examined by a study physician at the beginning of the study
3. Able and willing to provide two stool samples at the beginning (baseline) and approximately three weeks after treatment (follow-up)
4. Corresponding age to be included in the respective age groups of interest (i.e. between 2 to 5 years for preschoolers, between 6 to 12 for school-aged children or ≥21 years for the adult age group sample)
5. Positive for T. trichiura eggs in the stool
6. Absence of major systemic illnesses, e.g. severe anemia, clinical malaria as assessed by a medical doctor, upon initial clinical assessment
7. No known or reported history of chronic illness as cancer, diabetes, chronic heart, liver or renal disease
8. No recent anthelminthic treatment (within past 4 weeks)
9. No known allergy to study medications (i.e., ivermectin)
Key exclusion criteria1. No written informed consent by individual/parents and/or caregiver
2. Presence of major systemic illnesses, e.g. severe anemia, clinical malaria as assessed by a medical doctor, upon initial clinical assessment
3. History of acute or severe chronic disease
4. Recent use of anthelminthic drug (within past 4 weeks)
5. Attending other clinical trials during the study
6. Negative diagnostic result for T. trichiura eggs in the stool
Date of first enrolment25/05/2017
Date of final enrolment30/09/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Côte d'Ivoire

Study participating centre

Hôpital Méthodiste de Dabou
Dabou
0000
Côte d'Ivoire

Sponsor information

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
Research organisation

Socinstrasse 57
Basel
4051
Switzerland

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03adhka07

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Government organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, BMGF, B&MGF, GF
Location
United States of America

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal mid 2018.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from jennifer.keiser@unibas.ch

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article efficacy and safety results 28/09/2018 Yes No
Results article pharmacokinetics results 01/06/2019 13/03/2019 Yes No

Editorial Notes

13/03/2019: Publication reference added.
06/04/2018: Publication reference added.