Phase III Randomized,Multicenter Non-inferiority Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Shorter Benznidazole Regimens Compared to the Standard Regimen to Treat Adult Patients With Chronic Chagas Disease
Chagas disease, a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in much of Latin America and affects people throughout the world. Currently treatment with the only two drugs effective against the infection, benznidazole and nifurtimox, has significant limitations including frequent adverse effects in adult patients. However, timely treatment is key to achieving global objectives of controlling the disease. The standard treatment has a long duration (60 days). NuestroBen will test the hypothesis that shorter treatment regimens of 14 days and 28 days will be non-inferior to the standard 60-day treatment while improving the safety profile.
• Signed informed consent form;
• Between ≥18 and ≤60 years of age;
• Weight ≥ 50 kg to ≤ 95 kg;
• Confirmation of the diagnosis of T. cruzi infection by conventional serology (a minimum of two tests must be reactive);
• Serial qualitative PCR (one blood sample divided in three DNA extractions, at least one of which must be positive);
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy result at the time of inclusion, must not be breast-feeding, and must use a highly effective method of contraception during study treatment and until 30 days after the last dose of study treatment or demonstrate permanent sterilization;
• Ability to comply with all exams and specific protocol visits;
• Having a permanent address;
• ECG criteria: (Heart rate: 50 -100 bpm or isolate sinus bradycardia from 41 to 59 beats/min; QRS ≤120 msec, and QTc ≥ 350 msec and ≤ 450 msec) at screening) or following findings belonging to non-severe chagasic cardiomyopathy: uncomplete right bundle branch block, Left anterior fascicular block, First-degree atrioventricular block, Low voltage. The abnormalities included are not exclusionary;
• Normal or minimal structural changes in echocardiogram (left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDD) \<= 55 mm, diastolic dysfunction, absence of Microaneurysm or tip aneurysm, absence of hypo or generalized akinesia, absence of Systolic dysfunction (low fractional shortening and ejection fraction), and/or absence of mural thrombus);
• Not presenting signs or symptoms of moderate- severe chronic cardiac and/or digestive forms of Chagas disease (criteria detailed in Study Manual and specific SOP);
• No prior history of mental disorders or suicidal tendencies;
• Not suffering from known acute or chronic illnesses at the moment of selection for the study that, in the Investigator's discretion, may interfere with the evaluation of the efficacy or safety of the investigational product (such as acute infections, immunosuppressive conditions, or liver or kidney diseases that have required treatment);
• Not having received a formal indication not to take BZN (contraindication, according to the Summary of Product Characteristics - SmPC);
• No prior history of hypersensitivity, allergy, or serious adverse reactions to any of the nitroimidazole compounds (including BNZ) and/or its components/excipients;
• Have not previously undergone antiparasitic treatment for T. cruzi infection;
• No prior history of drug abuse or alcoholism;
• Not suffering from any disease or condition that prevents subjects from consuming oral medication.