Evaluation of Three Artemisinin-based Combinations for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Childreen in Burkina Faso (CHIMIO2)

Bakground In Burkina Faso, since the adoption of this new malaria treatment policy in 2005, several studies evaluating the efficacy and tolerance of ACTs have been carried out by different research teams at different sites according to an irregular chronology and according to different methods. Studies conducted in children 6 to 59 months with supervised use of ACTs indicate adequate clinical and parasitological response rates varying between 93% to 98% after correction to the PCR at day 28. With the introduction of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) by the Sulfadoxine-Pyriméthamime/amodiaquine combination in almost all health districts of Burkina Faso, ASAQ is no longer recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the areas covered by this intervention. In 2017, DHA-PPQ was added to the national treatment guidelines as a first-line treatment option. The therapeutic efficacy study carried out in 2017-2018 by the CNRFP showed a PCR-corrected treatment failure rate of over 10% with the AL combination. However, molecular analyzes have not shown the presence of mutations at position 580 on the PfK-13 gene which is associated with resistance to artemisinin derivatives. The combination artesunate-pyronaridine (As-Pyr) was recently added to the WHO Prequalified Medicines List and Essential Medicines List. In 2019, it received regulatory marketing authorization to be used as a treatment for malaria in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso (along with the Niangoloko and Bobo Dioulasso centers) was one of the countries where clinical trials p ar the As-Pyr association were led. This combination has been found to be effective and well tolerated in Burkina Faso. The combinations of AL and DHA-PPQ were observed to be well tolerated in previous efficacy studies. The combinations DHA-PPQ and As-Pyr could potentially replace AL as first-line treatment in Burkina Faso if the results of these planned therapeutic efficacy studies continue to show a high rate of failures with AL.