Efficacy and Safety of KAF156 in Combination With LUM-SDF in Adults and Children With Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria

A Phase 2 Interventional, Multicenter, Randomized Open Label Study to Determine the Effective and Tolerable Dose of KAF156 and Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation in Combination, Given Once Daily for 1, 2 and 3-days to Adults and Children With Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria

This study was designed to determine the most effective and tolerable dose at the shortest dosing regimen of the investigational drug KAF156 in combination with a solid dispersion formulation of lumefantrine (LUM-SDF) in adult/adolescent and pediatric patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

There is unmet medical need for anti-malarial treatment with new mechanism of action to reduce probability of developing resistance, and for duration shorter than 3 days of treatment and/or reduced pill burden.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Acute Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: KAF156; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; Drug: Coartem

Detailed Description

This was a Phase 2 multi-center and open-label study with a single cohort pharmacokinetic (PK) Run-in Part followed by 2 randomized parallel-group parts, Part A and Part B, in adults and children with confirmed and uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Each part (PK Run-in, Part A and Part B) had the same design structure: A screening phase of up to 24 hours where participants were evaluated for eligibility and randomized (Part A and B) into different cohorts. A treatment phase of up to 3 days where participants were treated for 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days. Finally, participants were followed up until Day 43, where the rescue medication was the local standard at the discretion of the Investigator and participants

PK Run-in part: Adult/adolescent participants (≥ 12 years old) were dosed with a single dose of 200 mg KAF156 and 960 mg LUM-SDF at Day 1. The purpose of this part was to assess potential PK interactions between the compounds when dosed together.

Part A: Adult/adolescent participants (≥ 12 years old) were randomized into one of seven cohorts in a 2:2:2:2:2:2:1 ratio: six KAF156 and LUM-SDF cohorts at starting doses of 400 mg and 480 mg once daily (QD) for 1 day respectively and a control arm (Coartem twice a day (BID) for 3 days). Upon completion of Part A, all the dosing groups were evaluated in an interim assessment to determine the effective and tolerated KAF156 and LUM-SDF dosing regimen and dosages to be used in Part B.

Part B: Children participants (2 to < 12 years old) were randomized to three KAF156 and LUM-SDF cohorts at dosages and dosing regimens selected from Part A and the control arm (Coartem) in a 2:2:2:1 ratio.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 524
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Burkina Faso
  • Nanoro, Burkina Faso
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Gabon
  • Lambarene, Gabon
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• India
  • Jharkhand
    • Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, 834009
      • Novartis Investigative Site
• Kenya
  • Kombewa, Kenya
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Siaya, Kenya, 2300
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Mali
  • Sotuba, Mali
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Mozambique
  • Chokwe, Mozambique
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Thailand
  • Tak, Thailand, 63140
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Uganda
  • Masaka, Uganda
    • Novartis Investigative Site
  • Tororo, Uganda
    • Novartis Investigative Site
• Vietnam
  • VNM
    • Binh Phuoc Province, VNM, Vietnam, 830000
      • Novartis Investigative Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT, CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Part A: male and female patients ≥ 12 years and with a body weight ≥ 35.0 kg. Part B: after determining the effective/tolerated doses and regimens in adolescent and adult patients, male and female patients ≥ 2 and < 12 years and with a body weight ≥ 10.0 kg will be included.
• Microscopic confirmation of P. falciparum by Giemsa-stained thick and thin films.
• P. falciparum parasitaemia of more than 1000 and less than 150 000 parasites/µL at the time of pre-screening (i.e., Study Visit 1).
• Axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 ºC or oral/tympanic/rectal temperature ≥ 38.3 ºC; or similar history of fever during the previous 24 hours (history of fever must be documented).
• Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed. If the patient is unable to read and write, then a witnessed consent according to local ethical standards is permitted. Patients < 18 years old, who are capable of providing assent, must provide assent with parental/legal guardian consent or as per local ethical guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mixed Plasmodium infections.
• Signs and symptoms of severe malaria according to WHO (World Health Organization) 2015 criteria unless characterized by high parasitaemia only.
• Patients with concurrent febrile illnesses (e.g., typhoid fever).
• Severe 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 per day.
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
• Clinically relevant abnormalities of electrolyte balance which require correction, e.g., hypokalemia, hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.
• Anemia (Hemoglobin level < 8 g/dL).
• 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).
• History or family history of long QT syndrome or sudden cardiac death, or any other clinical condition known to prolong the QTc (heart rate-corrected QT) interval, such as history of symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias, clinically relevant bradycardia or severe heart disease.
• Any surgical or medical condition which might significantly alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs, 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 > 2 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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: SINGLE

Number of Arms

12

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 1: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 1 day; Participants received a single oral dose of KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 2: KAF 800 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 1 day; Participants received a single oral dose of KAF156 800 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 3: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 2 days; Participants received KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg once daily via oral administration for 2 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 4: KAF 200 mg and LUM 480 mg QD for 3 days; Participants received KAF156 200 mg and LUM-SDF 480 mg once daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 5: KAF 400 mg and LUM 480 mg QD for 3 days; Participants received KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 480 mg once daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part A - Cohort 6: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 3 days; Participants received KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg once daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Part A - Cohort 7: Coartem; Participants received Coartem twice daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: Coartem; Coartem comes as 20/120 mg dispersible tablets or 80/480 mg tablets for oral administration. Coartem was administered twice daily for 3 days as active comparator.
EXPERIMENTAL: PK Run-in Cohort: KAF 200 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 1 day; Participants received a single oral dose of KAF156 200 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part B - Cohort 1: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 1 day; Participants received a single oral dose of KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part B - Cohort 2: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 2 days; Participants received KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg once daily via oral administration for 2 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
EXPERIMENTAL: Part B - Cohort 3: KAF 400 mg and LUM 960 mg QD for 3 days; Participants received KAF156 400 mg and LUM-SDF 960 mg once daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: KAF156; KAF156 comes in 100 mg tablets for oral administration. KAF156 was administered in combination with LUM-SDF once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 200 mg, 400 mg or 800 mg doses.; Other Names: KAF; Drug: Lumefantrine Solid Dispersion Formulation; LUM-SDF comes in 240 mg or 480 mg sachets for oral administration. LUM-SDF was administered in combination with KAF156 once daily (QD) for 1, 2 or 3 days at 480 mg or 960 mg doses.; Other Names: LUM-SDF and LUM
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Part B - Cohort 4: Coartem; Participants received Coartem twice daily via oral administration for 3 days	Drug: Coartem; Coartem comes as 20/120 mg dispersible tablets or 80/480 mg tablets for oral administration. Coartem was administered twice daily for 3 days as active comparator.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Corrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR) at Day 29	PCR-corrected ACPR defined as the absence of parasitaemia was evaluated at Day 29 (i.e., 28 days post first dose) based on the short half-life of the study drugs. Microscopic species identification was confirmed and determined by PCR genotyping methods to establish malaria recrudescence/reinfection. A participant was considered as PCR-corrected ACPR at Day 29 if the participant did not meet any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure or late parasitological failure and was absence of parasitaemia on Day 29 irrespective of axillary temperature unless the presence of parasitaemia after 7 days was due to reinfection based on PCR. A presence of parasitaemia after 7 days of treatment initiation was considered as a reinfection only if the parasitaemia was clear before Day 8 and none of the parasite strain(s) detected on Day 8 or later matched with the parasite strain at baseline based on PCR.	28 days post first dose
PK Run-in: Area Under the Blood Concentration-time Curve Over the Last 24 Hours After Treatment Dose (AUC0-24h) of KAF156	Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated based on KAF156 blood concentrations determined by a validated liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. AUC0-24h was determined using non-compartmental methods.	0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours post-dose

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Uncorrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR)	PCR-uncorrected ACPR defined as the absence of parasitaemia was evaluated at days 15, 29 and 43 (i.e., 14, 28 and 42 days post first dose). A participant was considered as PCR-uncorrected ACPR at Days 15, 29 or 43 if the participant did not meet any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure or late parasitological failure and was absence of parasitaemia on Days 15, 29 or 43 irrespective of axillary temperature.	14, 28 and 42 days post first dose
Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Corrected Adequate Clinical and Parasitological Response (ACPR)	PCR-corrected ACPR defined as the absence of parasitaemia was evaluated at days 15 and 43 (i.e., 14 and 42 days post first dose). Microscopic species identification was confirmed and determined by PCR genotyping methods to establish malaria recrudescence/reinfection. A participant was considered as PCR-corrected ACPR at Day 15 or Day 43 if the participant did not meet any of the criteria of early treatment failure, late clinical failure or late parasitological failure and was absence of parasitaemia on Day 15 or Day 43 irrespective of axillary temperature unless the presence of parasitaemia after 7 days was due to reinfection based on PCR. A presence of parasitaemia after 7 days of treatment initiation was considered as a reinfection only if the parasitaemia was clear before Day 8 and none of the parasite strain(s) detected on Day 8 or later matched with the parasite strain at baseline based on PCR.	14 and 42 days post first dose
Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Recrudescence Events	Recrudescence is defined as appearance of asexual parasites after clearance of initial infection with a genotype identical to that of parasites present at baseline. Recrudescence must be confirmed by PCR analysis.	42 days post first dose
Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Reinfection Events	Reinfection is defined as appearance of asexual parasites after clearance of initial infection with a genotype different from those parasites present at baseline. Reinfection must be confirmed by PCR analysis.	42 days post first dose
Part A and Part B: Fever Clearance Time (FCT)	Fever Clearance Time (FCT) is defined as the time from the first dose until the first time the axillary body temperature decreased below and remained below 37.5°C axillary or 38.0°C oral/tympanic/rectal for at least a further 24 hours. In case a participant received rescue medication before (fever) clearance, the time to event was censored at the first use of rescue medication.	42 days post first dose
PK Run-in, Part A and Part B: Parasite Clearance Time (PCT)	Parasite Clearance Time (PCT) is defined as the time from the first dose until the first total and continued disappearance of asexual parasite forms which remained at least a further 48 hours. In case a participant received rescue medication before (parasite) clearance, the time to event was censored at the first use of rescue medication.	42 days post first dose
PK Run-in, Part A and Part B: Number of Participants With Parasitaemia	Parasitaemia is the quantitative content of parasites in the blood determined by microscopy examination validated methods. Only Plasmodium Falciparum asexual form is used for parasitaemia assessments.	12, 24 and 48 hours post last dose
Part A and Part B: Area Under the Blood Concentration-time Curve Over the Last 24 Hours After Last Treatment Dose (AUC0-24h) of KAF156	Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated based on KAF156 blood concentrations determined by a validated liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. AUC0-24h was determined using non-compartmental methods.	3, 6, 18 and 24 hours post last dose
Part A and Part B: Maximum Peak Observed Concentration (Cmax) of KAF156	Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated based on KAF156 blood concentrations determined by a validated liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Cmax was determined using non-compartmental methods.	3, 6, 18, 24, 27, 30, 48, 51, 54, 68, 72 and 168 hours post last dose
PK Run-in and Part A: Elimination Half-life (T½) of KAF156	Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated based on KAF156 blood concentrations determined by a validated liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. T½ was determined using non-compartmental methods.	0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 27, 30, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours post last dose
PK Run-in and Part A (Cohorts 1 and 2): Time to Reach Maximum Blood Concentrations (Tmax) of KAF156	Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated based on KAF156 blood concentrations determined by a validated liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Tmax was determined using non-compartmental methods.	0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 48, 96 and 168 hours post last dose

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals
• Collaborators: Medicines for Malaria Venture

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 2, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): June 14, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): June 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 19, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): May 25, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): February 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 21, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Vector Borne Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Lumefantrine; Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
• Other Study ID Numbers: CKAF156A2202; 2020-003284-25 (EUDRACT_NUMBER)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on https://www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com/.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No