A Study to Evaluate Antimalarial Activity and Safety of MK-7602 in Healthy Adults (MK-7602-003)

February 28, 2024 updated by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

A Controlled Human Malaria Infection Study to Evaluate the Antimalarial Activity of MK-7602 Against Plasmodium Falciparum Blood Stage Infection in Healthy Adult Participants

The purpose of this study is to assess the antimalarial activity, pharmacokinetics, and safety of MK-7602 in healthy adults following Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

42

Phase

  • Phase 1

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

The main inclusion and exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Is in good health
  • Has a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 32 kg/m2, inclusive
  • For participant assigned male sex at birth: If capable of producing sperm, participant must agree to the following during the study treatment period and for at least 90 days after the last dose of MK-7602: Refrain from donating sperm, plus EITHER be abstinent OR must agree to use male condom plus additional contraceptive method
  • For participant assigned female sex at birth: EITHER be a person of nonchildbearing potential (PONCBP) OR must use a highly effective contraceptive method or be abstinent during the intervention period and for at least 10 days after the last dose of study intervention
  • Must provide confirmation of not living alone (at any stage from inoculation day until the end of the study). A participant who lives alone may be included on a case-by-case basis.
  • Agrees to refrain from eating food containing poppy seeds for 48 hours prior to screening, malaria inoculation, and MK-7602 administration

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of clinically significant clinically significant endocrine, gastrointestinal (GI), cardiovascular, hematological, hepatic, immunological, renal, respiratory, genitourinary, or major neurological (including stroke and chronic seizures) abnormalities or diseases
  • Is mentally or legally incapacitated or has a history of clinically significant psychiatric disorder
  • History of cancer (malignancy)
  • History of malaria
  • History of splenectomy
  • History of ever receiving a blood transfusion
  • History of recurrent headache (eg, tension-type, cluster or migraine) with a frequency of ≥2 episodes per month on average and severe enough to require medical therapy, during the 5 years preceding the screening visit
  • History of convulsion (including intravenous drug or vaccine-induced episodes). A medical history of a single febrile convulsion during childhood is not considered an exclusion criterion.
  • Has presence of clinically significant infectious disease or fever (eg, sublingual temperature ≥38.5 degrees Celsius) within the 5 days prior to inoculation
  • Has evidence of acute illness within the 4 weeks prior to screening that the Investigator deems may compromise participant safety
  • Has clinically significant disease or any condition or disease that might affect drug absorption, distribution, or excretion (eg, gastrectomy, diarrhea)
  • Has a medical requirement for intravenous immunoglobulin or blood transfusions
  • Has had a major surgery with more than 470 mL of blood loss, lost 1 unit of blood (approximately 470 mL) or undergone blood donation of any volume to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (Blood Service) or other blood blank within 4 weeks prior to the prestudy screening visit) or during the 8 weeks prior to inoculation
  • Has used any corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs (excluding commonly used over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac), immunomodulators or anticoagulants within the past three months
  • History of receiving immunosuppressive therapy (including systemic steroids, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or inhaled steroids) at a dose or duration potentially associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression within the past year from the screening visit
  • Has had any vaccination within the last 28 days
  • Has participated in another investigational study within 12 weeks (or 5 half-lives, whichever is greater) prior to the prestudy (screening) visit
  • History of participation in a previous malaria challenge study or malaria vaccine study.
  • Must not have had malaria exposure that is considered by the principal investigator or their delegate to be significant

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Panel A: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1
Participants are inoculated with Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). Panel A participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel B: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel B participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel C: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel C participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel D: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel D participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel E: MK-7602 Single dose Part 1
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel E participants receive MK-7602 as a single oral dose. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel F: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel F participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel G: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel G participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®
Experimental: Panel H: MK-7602 Multiple dose Part 2
Participants are inoculated with P. falciparum. Panel H participants receive MK-7602 at multiple oral doses. Participants will receive artemether/lumefantrine oral tablets as definitive antimalarial treatment. Additional definitive antimalarial treatment may be administered at the investigator's discretion.
Parasite inoculation administered by intravenous (IV) infusion as the challenge agent
Other Names:
  • P. falciparum
Capsules to be administered orally.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Riamet®; Coartem®
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Primacin®
Intravenous (IV) infusion to be administered as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Tablets to be administered orally as definitive antimalarial treatment.
Other Names:
  • Malarone ®

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Parasite reduction ratio (PRR48) (Parts 1 and 2)
Time Frame: Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
PRR48 is the logarithm of the parasite reduction ratio per 48 hours determined from parasitemia data from time 0 to time 48 hours. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the PRR48.
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
Parasite Clearance Half-life (PCt1/2) (Parts 1 and 2)
Time Frame: Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
PCt1/2 is the half-life of the log-linear portion of the parasite clearance curve. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the PCt1/2.
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
Parasite Regrowth (Parts 1 and 2)
Time Frame: Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
Parasite regrowth is defined as initial parasite clearance followed by asexual parasite regrowth above 5,000 parasites/mL. Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the parasite regrowth.
Pre-inoculation on Day 0, once daily Days 4 to 7, pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8, post-first dose of MK-7602 at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, (78 Part 2 only), 84, and 96 hours, and once daily Days 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, and 34
Part 1 Single dose: Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve Extrapolated to Infinity (AUC0-inf) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the AUC0-inf for Part 1.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 1 Single dose: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Cmax for Part 1.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 1 Single dose: Concentration at 24 Hours (C24) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the C24 for Part 1.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 1 Single dose: Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Tmax for Part 1.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 1 Single dose: Elimination Half-life (t1/2) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the t1/2 for Part 1.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 2 Multiple dose: Area Under the Curve Time 0 to End of the Dosing Interval (AUC0-tau) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the AUC0-tau for Part 2.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 2 Multiple dose: Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Cmax for Part 2.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 2 Multiple dose: Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Tmax) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the Tmax for Part 2.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Part 2 Multiple dose: Elimination Half-life (t1/2) of MK-7602
Time Frame: Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22
Blood samples collected pre-dose and at multiple timepoints post-dose will be used to determine the t½ for Part 2.
Pre-dose of MK-7602 on Day 8 and post-first dose of MK-7602 at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 30, 36, 48, 54, 60, 72, 78, 84 and 96 hours and then once daily on Days 13, 15, 17, 20, and 22

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Experience an Adverse Event (AE)
Time Frame: Up to Day 45
An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality.
Up to Day 45
Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Intervention Due to an AE
Time Frame: Up to Day 13
An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in a participant, whether or not considered drug related. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product and does not imply any judgment about causality.
Up to Day 13

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Study Director: Medical Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

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 (Estimated)

April 2, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 10, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 28, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2024

First Posted (Estimated)

March 6, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

March 6, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2024

Last Verified

February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

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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