The Melanesian states of the Western Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu)
represent a unique and especially prescient challenge to malaria control and elimination.
While the use of bed nets and other vector control and case management measures have achieved
major advances in overall malaria control, the P. vivax and P. ovale species account for an
ever-increasing burden of clinical disease.
The lack of effective treatment of the hypnozoite stages of infection with these species
result in ongoing relapses and a continuing reservoir of infection.
The only known drug effective for treatment of the hypnozoite stage is primaquine; however
the safe and effective dose of this drug in malaria treatment is still unclear.
A recent study evaluated the safety and efficacy of two primaquine dosing regimens (0.25mg/kg
and 0.5mg/kg) in a population in New Ireland province, PNG. This study aims to replicate this
methodology in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, to provide a more complete picture of primaquine
efficacy and safety in each of the three countries of this region.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Menzies School of Health Research
Collaborators:
Ministry of Health, Solomon Islands Ministry of Health, Vanuatu Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research World Health Organization