Last Update: Jul 23, 2024
A Phase 2 Interventional, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-label Study in Three Age-descending Cohorts to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of KAF156 and Lumefantrine-SDF Combination in the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria in a Pediatric Population
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
Novartis Reference Number:CKAF156A2203
All compounds are either investigational or being studied for (a) new use(s). Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee that they will become commercially available for the use(s) under investigation.

Study Description

This study aims to determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the investigational
drug KAF156 in combination with a solid dispersion formulation of lumefantrine (LUM-SDF)
in pediatric patients (6 months to < 18 years of age) with uncomplicated P. falciparum
malaria. There is an unmet medical need for anti-malarial treatment with a new mechanism
of action to reduce the probability of developing resistance. This Phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the
investigational drug KAF156 and a Solid Dispersion Formulation of lumefantrine (LUM-SDF)
when administered in combination in pediatric patients 6 months to < 18 years of age with
uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In addition, pharmacokinetics (PK) of the
drug combination will also be evaluated.

There will be three age-descending cohorts: Run-in Cohort, Cohort 1 and Cohort 2.

It is important to understand the impact of food on exposure. In adult healthy
volunteers, LUM-SDF alone has shown a food effect whereas KAF156 does not have a food
effect. This new study will first explore the effect of food on lumefantrine and KAF156
PK in malaria patients 12 to < 18 years old with malaria caused by P. falciparum before
younger patients are assessed.

Then, efficacy, safety and tolerability of the combination of KAF156 and LUM-SDF will be
evaluated in younger patients, first in Cohort 1 of patients 2 to < 12 years old and then
in Cohort 2 of patients 6 months to < 2 years old.

Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
Phase2
Recruiting
295
Feb 16, 2021
Aug 31, 2024
All
6 Years - 17 Years (Child)

Interventions

Drug

Coartem

Coartem® (dispersible tablets in blister pack) (for Cohorts 1 and 2), dose is based on body weight
Drug

KAF156

Provided as 50 mg or 100 mg tablets, to be taken QD 2 or 3 Days in combination with LUM-SDF, dose is based on body weight
Drug

LUM-SDF

Provided as 60 mg, 120 mg or 240 mg powder in sachet, to be taken QD 2 or 3 Days in combination with KAF156, dose is based on body weight

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. In run-in cohort: Male and female patients 12 to < 18 years of age, with a body
weight

- 35.0 kg In Cohort 1: Male and female patients 2 to < 12 years of age, with a
body weight ≥ 10.0 kg In Cohort 2: Male and female patients 6 months to < 2
years of age, with a body weight

- 5.0 kg

2. Microscopic confirmation of P. falciparum by Giemsa-stained thick and thin films

3. P. falciparum parasitemia of ≥ 1,000 and ≤ 150,000 parasites/μL at the time of
prescreening for the Run-in Cohort; and P. falciparum parasitemia of ≥ 1,500 and ≤
150,000 parasites/μL at the time of pre-screening for Cohorts 1 and 2

4. Axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 ºC or oral/tympanic/rectal temperature ≥ 38.0 ºC; or
history of fever during the previous 24 hours (at least documented verbally)

5. Written informed consent has been obtained from parent / legal guardian before any
assessment is performed. If the parent/legal guardian is unable to read and write,
then a witnessed consent according to local ethical standards is permitted. Patients
who are capable of providing assent, must provide assent with parental/legal
guardian consent or as per local ethical guidelines

6. The patient and his/her parent/legal guardian is able to understand and comply with
protocol requirements, instructions and protocol-stated restrictions and is likely
to complete the study as planned

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Mixed Plasmodium infections as per light microscopy results

2. Signs and symptoms of severe malaria according to WHO 2015 (see Section 16.4)

3. Significant, non-plasmodial co-infections including tuberculosis

4. Patients with concurrent febrile illnesses (e.g., typhoid fever, known or suspected
COVID19)

5. Known relevant liver disease e.g. chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, compensated or
decompensated, history of hepatitis B or C, hepatitis B or A vaccination in last 3
months, known gallbladder or bile duct disease, acute or chronic pancreatitis

6. Major congenital defects

7. Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient condition, including
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or family history of congenital or
hereditary immunodeficiency

8. Immunosuppressive therapy (steroids, immune modulators or immune suppressors) within
3 months prior to recruitment. (For corticosteroids, this will mean prednisone, or
equivalent, ≥ 0.5 mg/kg/day. Inhaled and topical steroids are allowed)

9. Repeated vomiting (defined as more than 3 times in the 24 hours prior to inclusion
in the study) or severe diarrhea (defined as more than 3 watery stools in the 24
hours prior to inclusion in the study)

10. Active duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic (i.e., > 2
weeks) use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

11. Clinically relevant abnormalities of electrolyte balance which require correction,
e.g., hypokalemia, hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia

12. Anemia (hemoglobin level <7 g/dL)

13. Any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption,
distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs (e.g., HIV patients on ART therapy
or TB patients on treatment), or which may jeopardize the patient in case of
participation in the study. The investigator should make this determination in
consideration of the patient's medical history and/or clinical or laboratory
evidence of any of the following:

- AST/ALT > 3 x the upper limit of normal range (ULN), regardless of the level of
total bilirubin

- AST/ALT > 1.5 and ≤ 2 x ULN and total bilirubin is > ULN Total bilirubin > 2 x
ULN regardless of the level of AST/ALT

14. Resting QT interval corrected by Fridericia's formula (QTcF) > 450 ms at screening

15. Creatinine > 2 x ULN in the absence of dehydration. In case of dehydration,
creatinine should be < 2 x ULN after oral/parenteral rehydration

16. Any severe disease condition which might prohibit participation in this study

17. Known chronic underlying disease such as sickle cell disease, and severe cardiac,
renal, or hepatic impairment

18. Known active or uncontrolled thyroid disease

19. Inability to swallow oral medication (in tablet and/or liquid form)

20. Patients with prior antimalarial therapy or antibiotics with antimalarial activity
within minimum of their five (5) plasma half-lives (or within 4 weeks of screening
if half-life is unknown)

21. Use of other investigational drugs within 30 days of dosing or until the expected
pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer

22. Patients taking medications prohibited by the protocol

23. Previous participation in any malaria vaccine study or received malaria vaccine in
any other circumstance within 3 months of dosing

24. History or family history of long QT syndrome or sudden cardiac death, or any other
clinical condition known to prolong the QTc interval, such as history of symptomatic
cardiac arrhythmias, clinically relevant bradycardia or severe heart disease

25. Use of agents known to prolong the QT interval unless it can be permanently
discontinued for the duration of study

26. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or its excipients or to drugs
of similar chemical classes

For the Run-in Cohort only:

27. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) patients

28. Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of
becoming pregnant, unless they are using basic methods of contraception during
dosing of investigational drug. Basic contraception methods include:

- Total abstinence (when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle
of the patient. Periodic abstinence (e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal,
post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of
contraception

- Female sterilization (have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without
hysterectomy), total hysterectomy or tubal ligation at least six weeks before
taking investigational drug. In case of oophorectomy alone, only when the
reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level
assessment

- Male sterilization (at least 6 m prior to screening). For female patients on
the study, the vasectomized male partner should be the sole partner for that
patient

- Barrier methods of contraception: Condom or Occlusive cap (diaphragm or
cervical/vault caps).

Use of oral, (estrogen and progesterone), injected or implanted hormonal methods of
contraception or other forms of hormonal contraception that have comparable efficacy
(failure rate <1%), for example hormone vaginal ring or transdermal hormone
contraception or placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system
(IUS) In case of use of oral contraception women should have been stable on the same
pill for a minimum of 3 months before taking investigational drug. Women are
considered not of child bearing potential if they have had surgical bilateral
oophorectomy (with or without hysterectomy), total hysterectomy or tubal ligation at
least six weeks ago. In the case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive
status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment is she
considered not of child bearing potential.

For Cohorts 1 and 2 only:

29. Patients of child bearing potential, defined as all girls post first menarche
(except for Run-in Cohort)

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