Clinical trials

INTENSE-TBM is randomized controlled, phase III, multicenter, 2 x 2 factorial plan superiority trial assessing the efficacity of two interventions to reduce mortality from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in adolescents and adults with or without HIV-infection in sub-Saharan Africa: * Intensified TBM treatment with high-dose rifampicin and linezolid, compared to WHO standard TBM treatment. * Aspirin, compared to not receiving aspirin. The trial will be open-label for anti-TB treatment and placebo-controlled for aspirin treatment.

Dovramilast has not been approved for leprosy type 2 reaction (erythema nodosum leprosum, ENL) or any other disease anywhere in the world. In this study, an experimental drug called dovramilast is being tested to see how it compares to current treatments for leprosy type 2 reaction. Specifically, this study aims to assess the efficacy of 100mg or 150 mg dovramilast compared with standard treatments (also known as standard of care). This study also aims to assess the safety of two strengths in adults with leprosy type 2 reaction.

The resilience of P. vivax to malaria elimination efforts is due to its ability to form dormant liver stages (hypnozoites) that reactivate weeks to months after the initial infection causing recurrent episodes of malaria (relapses) and ongoing parasite transmission. Relapses account for a majority of recurrent infections and clinical cases of P. vivax malaria, and therefore have a significant effect on morbidity at the individual level. With current technology, it is not possible to directly measure hypnozoite biomarkers. Rather than directly detecting hypnozoites, our team developed an indirect approach by measuring antibodies induced by the primary blood-stage infection. Antibodies to different blood-stage antigens decay at different rates. Measuring antibodies to a carefully selected panel of P. vivax antigens can aid to identify individuals who have been infected within the previous 9 months (approximately the lifespan of hypnozoites). A serological test based on selected P. vivax antigens can detect recent exposure and predict future relapses. Coupling this test with a safe and efficacious primaquine treatment regimen, results in a population-based intervention to target the hypnozoite reservoir. This intervention is referred to as Plasmodium vivax Serological Testing and Treatment (PvSeroTAT). PvSTATEM is a cluster randomised trial in Madagascar and Ethiopia. This study will provide insights into the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the PvSeroTAT approach. In this study, individuals, randomised by clusters, will be tested for the presence of serological markers of a recent P. vivax infection, followed by a targeted drug treatment intervention aimed at killing P. vivax hypnozoites.

As the survival of children with retinoblastoma in high income countries is higher than 95% including the bilateral forms this study hopes to improve the outcome in low income countries in Africa by improving early diagnosis and early implementation of this protocol of therapeutic recommendations for treatment.

This is the 4th LMB study by the French African Pediatric Oncology Group (GFAOP). The study hopes to be able to evaluate children earlier with stage I and II disease and to evaluate treatment response earlier so that the units can decide if a change in treatment is necessary, it is also hoped to provide an intensification of treatment for the stage IV disease.

The study is based on results form 2 previous studies carried out by the GFAOP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of units to follow the recommendations in the protocol.

The purpose of this study is to determine the health impacts of consistent consumption of insect-fortified crackers among school-aged children in Madagascar. Specifically, in this RCT, the investigators will assess whether the insect-fortified crackers can improve the health status of Malagasy school children. The investigators' objectives are to: (1) Assess changes in gut microbiome composition that occur after 6 and 14 weeks of cracker consumption through 16S rRNA sequencing. (2) Assess changes in intestinal and systemic inflammation after 6 and 14 weeks of cracker consumption through quantification of fecal calprotectin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. (3) Assess changes in iron status after 14 weeks of cracker consumption through quantification of hemoglobin (Hb), inflammation-adjusted serum ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR).

The ultimate aim of this registry is to collect precise information concerning the children coming to oncology units working with the French African Oncology Group. This data will help to plan and provide correct pediatric oncology treatment and care for this population. Collecting the data will give much needed information on numbers, stage, treatment and outcome. The register will give data for local and national health authorities in planning pediatric cancer programs.