Combining dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine and a single low dose of primaquine to reduce malaria in high-transmission communities in Eastern Ghana
Official title: Implementation Research to Assessing the Feasibility of Combining Dihydroartemisinin Piperaquine and Primaquine for Malaria Mass Drug Administration in High Endemic Communities in the Eastern Region of Ghana
Run by Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research · NCT07389057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether giving whole communities dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine plus a single low dose of primaquine can reduce malaria infections in people aged 3 months and older who live in high-transmission communities in Eastern Ghana.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 3 Months and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 9000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Accra, Eastern Region) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07389057 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are residents of the target communities aged 3 months and older who weigh at least 10 kg, are not pregnant, are not known to be G6PD deficient, and can provide informed consent (or assent with parental consent for minors).
✕Probably not a fit
People who are pregnant, known to be G6PD deficient, have a life‑threatening illness, or are under 1 year of age or under 10 kg are excluded and therefore will not receive benefit from this MDA.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot uses mass drug administration (MDA) of dihydroartemisinin‑piperaquine (DHAP) with a single low dose of primaquine (PQ) across target communities to try to interrupt malaria transmission. The program will deliver the medicines to residents aged 3 months and above who meet safety criteria, with exclusion of pregnant women, infants under 1 year or <10 kg, and known G6PD‑deficient individuals. Investigators will monitor parasite carriage, transmission markers (including gametocyte clearance), and safety outcomes over repeated rounds of treatment. The work builds on earlier community MDA and mass testing efforts in the region and will include local implementation and follow-up in the Pokrom subdistrict.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could sharply reduce parasite carriage and lower community malaria transmission, leading to fewer infections and malaria cases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous MDA using artemether‑lumefantrine in the region achieved very large reductions in parasite carriage (>95%) but saw later fluctuations, and single low‑dose primaquine is known from other studies to reduce gametocytes though community MDA combining DHAP+PQ is less widely tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * must be aged 3 months and above and * be resident in the communities for the period of the study, * completed and signed a consent form from the parent or guardian of children below 18 years * Completed and signed assent for 12-17 years old children. * Completed and signed consent for those from age 18 years and above. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women * individual with a life-threatening illness (excluding malaria) * less than 10Kg body weight (or less than 1 year old) * individuals who had experienced adverse effects related to primaquine or * known to be G6PD deficient .
Where it's running
-
Pokrom sub district
Accra, Eastern Region, Ghana Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ndong Ignatius Cheng, PhD — Noguchi Memorial institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana
- Study coordinator: Ndong Ignatius Cheng, PhD
- Email: Ncheng@noguchi.ug.edu.gh
- Phone: +233561817573
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Hidden malaria infections and mosquito dynamics in Odisha
This study follows a large group of people in rural Odisha to see how many have malaria infections without symptoms and how this hidden reservoir relates to ongoing transmission.
-
First-in-human dose-escalation of a monoclonal antibody for malaria safety in healthy adults
This study tests whether GSK4425689A is safe and tolerable and how it behaves in the body after IV or SC dosing in healthy adults.
-
New antimalarial drug GSK3772701 in adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria
A Phase 2A study tests whether the new drug GSK3772701 can be safely given in different doses to adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria to see if it works.
-
Two ways to give the R21/MM malaria vaccine during seasonal malaria campaigns in Chad
This project will test whether giving the R21/MM malaria vaccine together with seasonal malaria chemoprevention protects young children in Chad better than giving the vaccine through the routine immunization program.
-
Single ascending long-acting injectable doses of MMV055 alone and with MMV371 in healthy adults
This trial will test single ascending long-acting injectable doses of MMV055, alone and combined with MMV371, in healthy adults to check safety, tolerability, and how the drugs behave in the body.
-
Serology-guided radical treatment to reduce Plasmodium vivax relapses in Ethiopia and Madagascar
This project will use an antibody blood test to find people recently infected with P. vivax and give G6PD-tested patients primaquine plus a blood-stage antimalarial to try to prevent relapses in selected communities.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.