Kintampo (B/A), Dec. 11, GNA - A trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a new drug, CDA, also known as lapdap-artesunate, for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria has begun in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The drug, CDA, is an artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and the trial is being conducted among children aged one to 14 years in Kintampo area.

To overcome the drawback of drug resistance in the management of uncomplicated malaria, ACT has been recommended by World Health Organisation to African countries experiencing resistance to mono-therapies such as chloroquine. The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) and other institutions in Kenya and Tanzania are overseeing the multi-centre trial with support from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. CDA is administered as one tablet unlike artesunate-amodiaquine, which is a package of two drugs. Coartem is the only available one-dose ACT and CDA would be tested alongside coartem to demonstrate the non-inferiority of CDA in terms of efficacy.

Dr Kwaku Poku Asante, a Clinical Research Fellow at KHRC, told journalists from the African Media and Malaria Research Network on a visit to the centre that the trial had enrolled over 100 children to participate in the project. He said the advantage of CDA is that as one tablet it is less complicated to administer and comply with. Dr Poku Asante said being a new drug trial, approval to carry out the study was sought from the Food and Drugs Board in Ghana and ethical approval was also sought from the Ethics Committee of KHRC and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. CDA is expected to be an alternative ACT for use in Ghana if the studies prove successful.