Phase Ib, Single-center, Randomized, Study to Determine Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Different Orally Administered Regimens of the Combination ZY19489-Ferroquine in Adult Asymptomatic Plasmodium Falciparum Carriers
Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium and it is the most important parasitic disease in terms of mortality and morbidity. Estimates of 247 million malaria cases and 619.000 deaths worldwide were reported by WHO for the year 2021 (1). Plasmodium falciparum can lead to severe malaria and accounts for 90% of malaria deaths that mainly occur in children below the age of 5 years in Sub-Saharan Africa. A simplified treatment regimen, ideally a single-day cure (or at most 2-day dosing regimen), of uncomplicated malaria due to P. falciparum would be the magic in the antimalarial armamentarium. Improving treatment adherence is one of the key factors in reducing mortality and morbidity and also the transmission of malaria, and such a regimen would substantially increase adherence. To find a new non-artemisinin combination therapy with a shorter regimen, ideally, a single-dose cure, with low resistance potential would be the aim. The two compounds tested here are ZY19489, a triaminopyrimidine, and ferroquine (FQ), a next-generation 4-aminoquinoline. Both compounds show unique features in terms of long half-life, and activity against current drug-resistant strains. Therefore, the main goal of this clinical trial is to assess the safety of the ZY19489-FQ combination given as a 1- or 2-day dose regimen.
• \- 1. Male and female (non-pregnant, non-lactating) subjects aged between 18 and 55 years old 2. Participant's body weight ≥ 45 kg 3. Evidence of asymptomatic infection with Plasmodium falciparum mono-infection on microscopy with parasite density between 20/µL and 5000/µL.
• 4\. Participants should agree to not donate blood from enrolment in the study until end of the follow-up period 5. Ability to swallow oral medication 6. Evidence of written informed consent personally signed and dated by the participant.
• Signed informed consent obtained prior to participation in the study. In case of participant unable to read and write or otherwise incapable of signing an informed consent, an impartial witnessed consent shall be obtained. Participants who are willing to and are able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.