Aims:
To assess the efficacy and safety of an ultra-short course of primaquine to reduce the risk of vivax malaria
Objectives:
- To compare the anti-relapse efficacy of a new ultra-short high-dose primaquine regimen (PQ3.5) to a short high-dose primaquine regimen (PQ7).
- To compare the anti-relapse efficacy of PQ3.5 to the current standard of care, long course, low-dose primaquine regimen (PQ14).
- To compare the tolerability and safety of PQ3.5, PQ7 and PQ14
Additional objectives:
- To explore patient preferences on tolerability and effectiveness through discrete choice experiments (DCE)
- To assess cost-effectiveness and budget impact of treatment options
- To refine recurrence classification through parasite genotyping
Summary:
A reduction of treatment duration from 14 days to 7 days for vivax malaria has improved adherence and effectiveness. An ultra-short primaquine course is expected to further improve adherence and provides an opportunity to align the length of anti-relapse treatment with the 3-day blood schizontocidal treatment. have shown that a 3.5-day primaquine regimen (1mg/kg twice daily) was safe in children in Papua New Guinea, but more data from diverse populations are required for policy recommendations.
Implications for policy and practice:
Our strategic public health trial will provide crucial evidence to optimise treatment regimens for the radical cure of vivax malaria, directly informing national and international treatment guidelines.
Chief Investigator:
Kamala Thriemer
Project Manager:
Hellen Mnjala
Contact info:
Hellen.mnajala@menzies.edu.au
Funders:
- NHMRC
Photo credits:
- A/Prof Brioni Moore - Curtin University
- Dr Tamiru Degaga – Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
- Prof Moses Laman – PNG Institute of Medical Research
- Prof Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu Medical Faculty, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
- Prof Asim Beg, Aka Khan University, Pakistan
- Prof Ric Price, Menzies
- A/Prof Benedikt Ley, Menzies
- Dr Meg Rajasekhar, University of Melbourne
- Prof Richard Norman, Curtin University
- A/Prof Rob Commons, Menzies
- Prof Asrta Mekura, Addis Abeba University, Ethiopia
- Prof Julie Simpson, University of Melbourne
- Dr Holger Unger, Menzies School of Health Research
- Dr Laurens Manning, University of Western Australia
- A/prof Angela Devine, Menzies School of Health research
- Dr Ari Winasti Satyagraha, Exeins Health Initiative
- A/Prof Sarah Auburn, Menzies School of Health Research
- Muthoni Mwaura, Menzies School of Health Research
- Sarah Cassidy-Seyoum, Menzies School of Health Research