New malaria pill for tiny infants studied, but trial stopped early
NCT ID NCT04300309
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a new, easy-to-dissolve malaria tablet in infants and newborns weighing less than 5 kg who had uncomplicated malaria. The goal was to see how the medicine worked in the body, how safe it was, and how well it treated the infection. The trial was stopped early after enrolling 28 participants.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
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28 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2020
- Finished
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May 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Up to 365 days
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female neonates/infants 2. Body weight \<5 kg but ≥ 2 kg 3. In Cohort 1, infants aged \>28 days; in Cohort 2, neonates aged 1 to ≤28 days (3 subgroups: 1-7 days; 8-14 days; 15-28 days) 4. Microscopically confirmed diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria (or mixed infections): * in Cohort 1 of ≥500 and \<100,000 parasites/µL asexual P. falciparum parasitemia * in Cohort 2 of ≥100 and \<100,000 parasites/µL asexual P. falciparum parasitemia * either congenital or neonatal * either symptomatic or asymptomatic Exclusion Criteria: 1. Head circumference \< - 2 SD z-score in cm following WHO age and sex-specific reference curves (suspicion of microcephaly) 2. Presence of severe malaria (according to WHO 2015 definition) 3. HIV status : * in Cohort 1, patient's or patient's mother's current treatment with ARV * in Cohort 2, mother's known HIV positive status at patient's birth or mother's current treatment with ARV 4. Presence of the following signs of a critical condition: apnea-bradycardia, sustained bradycardia, tachycardia, desaturation, hypotension, hypothermia; or other severely deteriorated general condition (based on IMCI criteria in sick infants) (WHO 2005) 5. Presence of any clinically significant neurological condition: * any episode of convulsion during the present illness (in keeping with the IMCI list of general danger signs) * known neurological disorders (e.g. chronic seizure disorders, cerebral palsy) 6. Presence of clinically significant abnormality of the hepatic and renal systems 7. Patients unable to swallow or whose drinking is impaired 8. Known hypersensitivity of the patient or either patient's parent to artemether, lumefantrine, any of the excipients of Coartem®/Riamet® Dispersible tablet, or to drugs of similar chemical classes 9. History of malabsorption or previous gastrointestinal surgery, or history of radiation therapy that could affect drug absorption or metabolism, or any other disorder or history of a condition that could interfere with drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion 10. Known family history of congenital prolongation of the QTc interval or sudden death or with any other clinical condition known to be associated with prolongation of the QTc interval such as history of symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias, with clinically relevant bradycardia or with severe cardiac disease 11. Disturbances of electrolyte balance (e.g. hypokalaemia or hypomagnesaemia) 12. Presence of any age-adjusted clinically or hematologically relevant laboratory and blood chemistry abnormalities 13. Patients who received any antimalarial drug, including antibiotics with antimalarial activity, within 14 days of trial start, or any other prohibited drug (see Table 6-2) 14. Patients who received an investigational drug within 5 half-lives of enrollment or participated in an investigational study or within 30 days, whichever is longer
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Novartis Investigative Site
Nanoro, Burkina Faso
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Novartis Investigative Site
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
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Novartis Investigative Site
Kisantu, Bas Kongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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