Clinical trial Recruiting at 16 sites Phase2; Phase3 Interventional

Finding the best treatment for Mycobacterium abscessus infections

Official title: Finding the Optimal Regimen for Mycobacterium Abscessus Treatment (FORMaT)

Run by The University of Queensland · NCT04310930 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing different treatments for lung infections caused by a tough bacteria called Mycobacterium abscessus to see which ones work best for both kids and adults.

Quick facts

PhasePhase2; Phase3
Study typeInterventional
SexAll
Enrollment300 (estimated)
SponsorThe University of Queensland
Academic / other
Locations50 sites (Kogarah, New South Wales and 49 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 2, 2020
Main results expectedJune 30, 2029
Study endsJune 30, 2030
Registry record updatedMay 11, 2026
Trial IDNCT04310930 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include individuals with confirmed MABS pulmonary disease who meet specific clinical, radiological, and microbiological criteria.

Probably not a fit

Patients currently receiving active treatment for MABS or those with known hypersensitivity to the trial therapies may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This trial aims to identify the most effective treatment regimens for pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS), a multi-drug resistant bacterium. It will evaluate various therapies, including Amikacin and Tigecycline, to determine their efficacy and tolerability in both children and adults. The study will also develop biomarkers to guide treatment decisions and assess disease severity. By using an adaptive trial design, the study can incorporate new therapies and discontinue ineffective ones based on real-time results.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this trial could lead to improved treatment options and outcomes for patients suffering from MABS pulmonary disease.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on MABS, this trial's adaptive design and focus on treatment optimization represent a novel approach in this area.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Eligibility criteria for the FORMaT trial can be applied at two levels:

1. Eligibility into the Intervention Program, or;
2. Eligibility into the Observational Cohort.

Potential participants can only be enrolled in either the Intervention Program or the Observational Cohort at any one time. Provided the eligibility criteria are met, potential participants may either:

1. Enrol directly into the Intervention Program, or;
2. Enrol into the Observational Cohort and transition into the Intervention Program once they satisfy the inclusion criteria for this program which can occur at any time during the trial.

Eligibility into the FORMaT trial will be assessed at screening. Observational Cohort participants who go on to meet the Intervention Program eligibility criteria can transition from the Observational Cohort to the Intervention Program.

INTERVENTION PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY (APPENDIX A) Potential participants are eligible for the Intervention Program (Appendix A) if the criteria below are met. Eligible participants with mixed NTM infections (slow growers + MABS) or with recurrence of MABS infection following completion of previous treatment will be eligible if they meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria listed below. For eligible participants with mixed NTM infections additional therapy combinations are available as detailed in the relevant appendices.

INTERVENTION PROGRAM INCLUSION CRITERIA

1. Positive MABS-PD diagnosis meeting all three American Thoracic Society clinical, radiological and microbiological diagnostic criteria for MABS-PD. Defined as:

   1. Clinical: Pulmonary symptoms and exclusion of other diagnoses.
   2. Radiological: Nodular or cavitary opacities on chest radiograph or a chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan showing multifocal bronchiectasis with multiple small nodules.
   3. Microbiological: MABS positive culture results from at least two separate expectorated sputum samples.

   or Positive culture results from at least one bronchial wash or lavage. or Transbronchial or other lung biopsy with mycobacterial histopathologic features (granulomatous inflammation or acid-fast bacilli (AFB)) and positive culture for NTM or biopsy showing mycobacterial histopathologic features (granulomatous inflammation or AFB) and one or more sputum or bronchial washes that are culture positive for NTM.

   Screening samples must be collected within the timeframes stated in the relevant appendix.
2. Male or female participants of any age.
3. Participant has not received treatment for MABS-PD in the 12 months preceding assessment of eligibility or as specified in the relevant appendix (this includes drugs prescribed for the treatment of other mycobacteria and/or other indications that may have activity against MABS, as specified in the FORMaT Prohibited Drug List Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)).
4. Informed consent signed by participant or parent/legal guardian if participant is under 18 years of age.
5. Ability to comply with study visits, therapies and study procedures as judged by the site investigator.

INTERVENTION PROGRAM EXCLUSION CRITERIA

* Participants receiving current treatment for MABS (this includes drugs prescribed for the treatment of other mycobacteria and/or other indications that may have activity against MABS, as specified in the FORMaT Prohibited Drug List SOP), except for participants taking azithromycin as part of routine treatment for CF or chronic infection-related pulmonary disease, or as specified in the relevant appendix.
* Participants who have a QTc interval of \>500 milliseconds (QT interval corrected based on Fridericia method).
* Participants who are pregnant or planning to continue breast feeding.
* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to any of the therapies for which no alternative option(s) have been provided.

OBSERVATIONAL COHORT INCLUSION CRITERIA

To be eligible to participate in the Observational Cohort the following criteria must be met:

1. Male and female participants of any age with at least one positive respiratory culture for MABS.
2. Informed consent signed by participant or parent/legal guardian if participant is under 18 years of age.
3. Ability to comply with study visits and study procedures as judged by the site investigator.

OBSERVATIONAL COHORT EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Potential participants will be ineligible to participate in the Observational Cohort if any of the following criterion are met:

• Receiving active treatment for MABS within the previous 12 months (this includes drugs prescribed for the treatment of other mycobacteria and/or other indications that may have activity against MABS, as specified in the FORMaT Prohibited Drug List SOP, except for participants taking azithromycin as part of routine treatment for CF or chronic infection-related pulmonary disease).

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Mixed NTM infections Participants who have cultured slow growing NTM of the same species two or more times in the 24 months prior to screening, with one of those cultures within the 6 months prior to screening, will be considered to have mixed NTM infection at the time of screening. The participants must meet all other inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria to be eligible for participation. Ethambutol may be used in addition to trial therapies to cover mixed NTM infections considered to require treatment by their clinician.

Appendix specific sub-studies and integrated studies Appendix specific sub-studies and integrated studies may have additional eligibility criteria which are described in each of the relevant appendices.

Where it's running

  • St George Hospital
    Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Queensland Children's Hospital
    South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Princess Alexandra Hospital
    Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Austin Hospital
    Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Royal Melbourne Hospital
    Parkville, Victoria, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Royal Perth Hospital
    Perth, Western Australia, Australia
    Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
  • Royal Adelaide Hospital
    Adelaide, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Sunshine Coast University Hospital
    Birtinya, Australia
    Recruiting
  • The Prince Charles Hospital
    Chermside, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Gold Coast University Hospital
    Gold Coast, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Greenslopes Private Hospital,
    Greenslopes, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Sir Charles Gairdiner Hospital
    Nedlands, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Perth Children's Hospital
    Perth, Australia
    Recruiting
  • The Alfred
    Prahran, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Mater Adult Hospital
    South Brisbane, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Rigshospitalet
    Copenhagen, Denmark
    Recruiting
  • Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
    Camperdown, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • John Hunter Hospital
    New Lambton, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • John Hunter Children's Hospital
    New Lambton Heights, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • Sydney Children's Hospital
    Randwick, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • Macquarie University Hospital
    Sydney, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • The Children's Hospital at Westmead
    Westmead, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • Westmead Hospital
    Westmead, Australia
    Not yet recruiting
  • Soroka Medical Centre
    Beer-Sheeva, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Carmel Medical Centre
    Haifa, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Rambam Health Care Campus
    Haifa, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital
    Jerusalem, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Schneider
    Petah Tikva, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Sheba Medical Centre
    Ramat Gan Tel Aviv, Israel
    Not yet recruiting
  • Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital
    Rotterdam, Netherlands
    Not yet recruiting
  • Tan Tock Seng Hospital Pte Ltd
    Singapore, Singapore
    Not yet recruiting
  • Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital
    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
    Not yet recruiting
  • National Taiwan University Hospital
    Taipei, Taiwan
    Not yet recruiting
  • Belfast City Hospital
    Belfast, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Birmingham Children's Hospital
    Birmingham, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
    Birmingham, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
    Bristol, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Noah's Ark Childrens Hospital for Wales
    Cardiff, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Western General Hospital
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow
    Glasgow, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Alder Hey Children NHS Foundation Trust
    Liverpool, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Royal Brompton Hosptial
    London, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
    Manchester, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Nottingham Children's Hosptial
    Nottingham, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Queens Medical Centre
    Nottingham, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Welcome Wolfson Adult CF Centre (City Hospital Campus)
    Nottingham, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • University Hospital Llandough
    Penarth, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Southampton General Hospital
    Southampton, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting
  • Wythenshawe Hospital
    Wythenshawe, United Kingdom
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.