Pharmacokinetics of Antimalarials in Breastfeeding Ugandan Mother-infant Pairs (MILK Malaria)

April 30, 2026 updated by: University of Liverpool

Pharmacokinetics of Drugs Used to Treat Uncomplicated Malaria in Breastfeeding Mother-infant Pairs: An Observational Pharmacokinetic Study

Lactating women requiring treatment for uncomplicated malaria will be identified and invited for sampling. The decision to treat them with first-line treatment will have been made by the clinician, not by a member of the study team. The study team will not make any adjustments to the prescribed treatment. Artemether-lumefantrine comprises six doses of medication, with the initial two doses given 8 hours apart on Day 1, and dosing 12-hourly on Day 2 and Day 3. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling will be undertaken after Dose 5, as indicated in the schema under Section 5: plasma and breastmilk samples will be obtained pre-dose and at 2, 4, 6, 8 hours after dose. In addition, sparse sampling will be undertaken on either of these occasions; at pre-dose and between 1 to 6 hours after the first dose; a trough (pre-dose) sample after the Dose 3 or Dose 4 and lastly at 5, 7, and up to 14-days after the first dose. A heelprick sample will also be obtained from the breastfed infants at maternal trough (prior to maternal dose) and at a random timepoint (once per infant) over the 8-hour pharmacokinetic sampling visit to characterize concentrations of these drugs over an 8-hour dosing interval. In addition, a single heelprick sample will be obtained from the infant whenever the mother returns after treatment for the late sampling time points (5, 7, and 14 days post the first dose). Due to the long half-life of lumefantrine of approximately 6 days plasma sampling will be performed up to day 14 to characterise the terminal elimination of the drug. Concentrations of total plasma and breastmilk lumefantrine and desbutyl-lumefantrine will be determined.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The endpoints of this study relate to the amount of antimalarial drug present in maternal blood, breastmilk and infant blood. The study is not powered for antimalarial efficacy, and therefore formal assessment of parasitological clearance is not required. The participants will be followed up until 30-40 days after completion of antimalarial therapy, and if recurrent symptoms occur, management will be as clinically indicated. Details regarding further clinical investigations and management required by either mother or infant during the follow-up period will be recorded on the CRF.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Uganda
    • Kampala
      • Kampala, Kampala, Uganda, 22418
        • Infectious Diseases Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Ugandan breastfeeding women requiring treatment for uncomplicated malaria

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. A personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the participant has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.
  2. Participants who are willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures.
  3. Woman is aged 18 years or older, and mothers between the age of 14-17, who are considered emancipated minors.
  4. Receiving treatment for uncomplicated malaria
  5. Breastfeeding at enrolment

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Severe maternal or infant illness which in the opinion of the patient's clinician would interfere with her participation in the study
  2. Breastfed infant is aged over 12 months
  3. Partner objection to participate in the study
  4. Maternal objection to infant participation

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Participants
Breastfeeding women who have been prescribed (by a clinician independent from the study team) artemether-lumefantrine to treat uncomplicated malaria
Drug: Artemether-lumefantrine
National policy recommendation for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Uganda

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
AUC0-24 of lumefantrine in maternal plasma and breastmilk
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Maternal plasma exposure of lumefantrine
0-24 hours after dose
AUC0-24 of lumefantrine breastmilk
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Breastmilk exposure of lumefantrine
0-24 hours after dose
Milk to plasma ratio of lumefantrine
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Ratio of AUC in breastmilk to maternal plasma
0-24 hours after dose

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
AUC desbutyl-lumefantrine plasma
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Plasma exposure of active metabolite
0-24 hours after dose
AUC desbutyl-lumefantrine breastmilk
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Breastmilk exposure of active metabolite
0-24 hours after dose
Milk to plasma ratio of desbutyl-lumefantrine
Time Frame: 0-24 hours after dose
Ratio of breastmilk to maternal plasma of active metabolite
0-24 hours after dose
Infant concentration lumefantrine
Time Frame: 0-8 hours after maternal dose
Infant lumefantrine exposure
0-8 hours after maternal dose
Infant concentration desbutyl-lumefantrine
Time Frame: 0-8 hours after maternal dose
Infant exposure to active metabolite
0-8 hours after maternal dose
Infant development
Time Frame: 0-1 year old
Infant assessment using Gross Motor Development Score (IGMDS)
0-1 year old
Depression and anxiety in mothers
Time Frame: 0-1 year postpartum
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9)
0-1 year postpartum
Depression and anxiety in mothers
Time Frame: 0-1 year postpartum
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD7)
0-1 year postpartum
Maternal beliefs about medicines
Time Frame: 0-1 year postpartum
Beliefs about Medicines questionnaire (BMQ)
0-1 year postpartum

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Liverpool

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Makerere University
Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Clinical Research Programme

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 20, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 10, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 13, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 4, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 9, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 30, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • MILK Malaria

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Anonymised data showing age, number of weeks postpartum and drug concentrations in plasma, breastmilk and infant plasma will be made available for future use following primary publication.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After primary publication - intention is to place anonymised data on drug concentrations on an online repository such as Zenodo

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Weblink not yet available.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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