Could a drug cocktail slash deaths from TB of the brain?

NCT ID NCT04145258

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This Phase III trial in sub-Saharan Africa tests whether giving higher doses of rifampicin plus linezolid, along with aspirin, can reduce deaths from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative people. About 768 adolescents and adults will receive either the intensified treatment or standard WHO therapy, with or without aspirin. The goal is to see if these additions improve survival over the current standard care.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

high-dose rifampicin, linezolid, and aspirin

What this could lead to

If successful, this could lead to a new standard treatment that lowers the death rate from tuberculous meningitis, a severe brain infection.

What could go wrong

This is a large Phase III trial, but the intensified drugs may cause more side effects, and the benefit over standard care is not yet proven.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

meningeal tuberculosis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Cocody University Hospital

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

    Contact

  • Dora Nginza Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Contact

  • Kayelitsha District Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Cape Town, South Africa

    Contact

  • Livingstone and PE Central Hospitals

    RECRUITING

    Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Contact

  • Mbarara Regional Reference Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Mbarara, Uganda

    Contact

  • Mitchells Plain Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Cape Town, South Africa

    Contact

  • Morafeno University Hospital

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Toamasina, Madagascar

    Contact

  • New Somerset Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Cape Town, South Africa

    Contact

  • Regional Reference Hospital of Kabale

    RECRUITING

    Mbarara, Uganda

    Contact

  • Treichville University Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

    Contact

  • University Hospital Joseph Raseta Befelatanana

    RECRUITING

    Antananarivo, Madagascar

    Contact

  • University Hospital Tambohobe

    RECRUITING

    Fianarantsoa, Madagascar

    Contact

  • Yopougon University Hospital

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

    Contact