Shortened treatment for tuberculosis in children
Official title: Shortened Regimen for Drug-susceptible TB in Children
Run by Johns Hopkins University · NCT06253715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a shorter 2-month treatment for tuberculosis works just as well and is safe for children under 10 as the usual 4- to 6-month treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 0 Days to 9 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 860 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 9 sites (Chennai and 8 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06253715 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are children under 10 years old diagnosed with drug-susceptible tuberculosis.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis or those who do not meet the age and weight criteria 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 clinical trial evaluates whether a 2-month treatment regimen using isoniazid, rifapentine, pyrazinamide, and moxifloxacin is as safe and effective as the standard 4- to 6-month regimen for curing drug-susceptible tuberculosis in children under 10 years old. The study aims to determine if the shorter regimen can improve treatment adherence and reduce caregiver burden. Participants will be children diagnosed with pulmonary or lymph node TB, and the study will assess treatment outcomes and safety, including in children with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly reduce the duration of tuberculosis treatment in children, making it easier for them to complete therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise with shorter treatment regimens for tuberculosis, but this specific approach in children is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Parent or guardian is willing and able to provide written informed consent for potential participant's study participation; in addition, when applicable per Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board (EC/IRB) policies and procedures, potential participant is willing and able to provide assent for study participation. * At Entry, age of less than 10 years. * At Entry, weight 3 kilograms (kg) or greater. * At Entry, diagnosed with TB disease, defined as: * Pulmonary (including pleural effusion) and/or lymph node (extra-thoracic and/or intra-thoracic) TB with or without bacteriologic confirmation; * Clinician has decided to treat with standard first-line drug-susceptible TB regimen. * Known HIV status or HIV testing in progress based on meeting testing requirements. * Has normal, Grade 1 or 2 test results for all of the following done at or within 14 days of Entry (including the most recent): * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 5 times the upper limit of normal; * Total bilirubin less than or equal to 2.5 times the upper limit of normal; * Potassium level of 3.0 milliequivalent/L or greater; * Hemoglobin level of 7.0 g/dL or greater; * Platelet count of 100,000/mm3 or greater; * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; bedside Schwartz formula) 60 mL/min/1.73m2 or higher. * For children living with HIV: * On antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Entry: Must be on, or able to be switched to a dolutegravir-based regimen at or prior to Entry; * Not on ART at Entry: Planned initiation of dolutegravir before or at study Week 4. * For participants who have reached menarche or who are engaging in sexual activity (self-reported): negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days of Entry. * For participants who are engaging in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy (self-reported): agrees to practice at least one non-hormonal method of contraception or abstain from heterosexual intercourse during study drug treatment and for 30 days after stopping study medications. Non-hormonal methods include: * Male or female condoms * Diaphragm or cervical cap (with spermicide, if available) * Non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS) * At Entry, intends to remain in the catchment area of the study site for the duration of study follow-up or willingness to be followed up beyond the catchment area if/when applicable, as determined by the site investigator based on participant/parent/guardian report. Exclusion Criteria: * Presumed or documented extra-pulmonary TB involving the central nervous system and/or bones and/or joints, and/or miliary TB, and/or pericardial TB and/or TB of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and/or renal TB. * Premature infant (born less than 37-weeks gestation) who is less than 3 months of age at Entry. * Any known contraindication to taking any study drug: * Known allergy or intolerance to any of the study drugs or drugs in the same class as the study drugs; * Any prohibited medications within three days prior to Entry or planned use within the following 6 months; * Unable to take oral medications; * Known history of prolonged QT syndrome not caused by electrolyte derangements. * Received more than 10 days of treatment directed against TB disease within 6 months preceding initiation of study drugs. * M. tuberculosis isolate known or suspected to be resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and/or fluoroquinolones. * Known exposure to an infectious adult with drug-resistant TB, including resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and/or fluoroquinolones. * Has any other documented or suspected clinically significant medical condition or any other condition that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would make participation in the study unsafe, complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives. * Previously enrolled in this study. Late Exclusions: * M. tuberculosis cultured or detected through World Health Organization (WHO) approved molecular assays (e.g., Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert XDR, sequencing or Hain MTB-DR plus assays) from sputum, swallowed sputum, nasopharyngeal aspirates, stool, or lymph node aspirate obtained around the time of study entry is determined to be resistant to isoniazid and/or rifampin and/or pyrazinamide and/or ethambutol and/or fluoroquinolones. * Any child with a clinical TB diagnosis who is found to have a definitive alternative diagnosis for their presenting signs and symptoms whose TB treatment is discontinued prior to completion.
Where it's running
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Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis
Chennai, India Recruiting -
Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Center
Pune, India Recruiting -
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran
Bandung, Indonesia Recruiting -
Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS)
Maputo, Mozambique Recruiting -
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)
Durban, South Africa Recruiting -
MU-JHU Care Ltd
Kampala, Uganda Recruiting
Show 3 more locations
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University of Zambia, School of Medicine
Lusaka, Zambia Recruiting -
Arthur Davison Children's Hospital
Ndola, Zambia Recruiting -
Harare Health and Research Consortium (HHRC)
Harare, Zimbabwe Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nicole Salazar-Austin, MD, ScM — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Kisten Nolan, MPH, BSN
- Email: knolan2@jh.edu
- Phone: +14435403993
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Biomarker Test for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
This study tests biomarker-based methods to help diagnose extrapulmonary TB and monitor treatment in adults, including people living with HIV, using samples from affected sites in Kenya.
-
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This project will test whether levels of TB-derived cell-free DNA in the blood can track treatment response in adults newly diagnosed with tuberculosis.
-
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-
Doxycycline added to standard treatment for central nervous system tuberculosis
This trial tests whether adding doxycycline to standard anti‑TB therapy and corticosteroids helps adults with central nervous system tuberculosis live longer or have less severe neurological disability.
-
Examining Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Health-care Workers and Students
This study looks at how many health care workers and students have Latent Tuberculosis Infection without symptoms and what factors might put them at risk.
-
Improving tuberculosis diagnosis in Swiss children
This study is testing new blood tests to see if they can better diagnose tuberculosis in children compared to current methods.
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.