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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
An international consortium led by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) is launching a research project to treat severe malaria and bacterial bloodstream infections – two of the most common causes of death among children in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim is to develop a combination therapy that tackles both diseases simultaneously.
The ‘FACT’ project builds on the BNITM’s long-standing collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Medicine at the University of Tübingen, the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) in Ghana and Deutsche Malaria GmbH. It is scheduled to run for five years and is funded with around 10 million euros as part of the European Partnership for Clinical Trials in Developing Countries (EDCTP).
Malaria remains one of the greatest threats to health worldwide, particularly for children in Africa. In many cases, young patients are admitted to hospital with a high fever. It is often unclear whether malaria is the sole cause or whether a bacterial infection is also present. This is precisely where the FACT project comes in. It is taking a new approach: a treatment designed to tackle both causes of the illness simultaneously.
The researchers are developing and testing a new combination of active ingredients comprising three existing drugs: fosmidomycin, artesunate and clindamycin. This combination is to be administered as an infusion. In clinical trials across several African countries, the teams are first investigating the optimal dosage and then assessing the efficacy and safety of the new treatment. The trials are taking place in Gabon, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia, amongst other countries. At the same time, the researchers are investigating how effective the treatment is against drug-resistant pathogens and how it can be integrated into everyday clinical practice.
The new treatment has a key advantage: it is effective against both the malaria parasite and bacterial infections in the blood. It therefore tackles the problem directly where existing treatments have so far reached their limits. This is because many seriously ill children initially receive treatment for only one of the two possible causes. As a result, valuable time is often lost, and the untreated infection can take a serious turn. The new combination covers both from the outset. Furthermore, it could shorten the duration of treatment for severe malaria and help to curb resistance to existing drugs.
“In this project, we are building on long-standing, trusting collaborations between partners in Europe and Africa,” says Dr Mirjam Groger, project coordinator at the Department of Clinical Research at BNITM. “We now want to use this network to develop a treatment that takes effect immediately in clinical practice – particularly in situations where swift action can mean the difference between life and death.”
At the same time, FACT (Fosmidomycin–Artesunate–Clindamycin Therapy) is specifically strengthening research infrastructure in Africa. Young scientists are receiving targeted training in clinical research and pharmacology.
The BNITM is responsible for the overall management of the consortium. Dr Mirjam Groger is in charge of coordinating the project. Dr Rella Zoleko-Manego from the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) is the scientific director. Prof. Peter G. Kremsner from the University of Tübingen, who has played a decisive role in shaping international malaria research for decades, also plays a key role.
If the trials prove successful, the new treatment could become part of the standard care for severe malaria in the future. Over the next five years, the researchers aim to provide the crucial clinical data to support this. This would fundamentally change medical practice and significantly improve the chances of survival for many children.
Project partners
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)
Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL)
Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen
Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi (KNUST)
Universität Hamburg
Medizinische Universität Wien
Addis Ababa University
EURICE European Research and Project Office GmbH
DMG Deutsche Malaria GmbH
Funders
The FACT project is supported by Global Health EDCTP3 and its members. This work is part of the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking under grant number 101248797-FACT and is co-funded by the European Union.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union under Global Health EDCTP3. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of Global Health EDCTP3 nor its members. Neither of the parties can be held responsible for them.
Dr Mirjam Groger
Department Clinical Research, Lab Group Leader
Phone : +49 40 285380-480
Email : mirjam.groger@ctm.bnitm.de
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