Nairobi

Researchers are evaluating new medicines to prevent HIV-1 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 infection. This Phase 3 clinical study aims to determine if taking the drug MK-8527 once a month can prevent HIV-1 infection as well as or better than the standard daily pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP. The study also assesses the safety and tolerance of MK-8527 in participants. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives 11 mg of MK-8527 once monthly along with a daily placebo pill matching FTCTDF. The other group receives a daily dose of FTC245 mg TDF and a monthly placebo matching MK-8527. This treatment period lasts for approximately two years, followed by an additional 28-day period where all participants receive open-label FTCTDF daily. During the study, participants will undergo regular monitoring to check for HIV-1 infection and any adverse events. Researchers will track the number of participants who acquire HIV-1, experience side effects, or stop treatment due to side effects over the two-year period. Safety and adherence assessments will be conducted to evaluate the study treatments. The total participation time includes the two-year treatment phase plus the 28-day follow-up with open-label FTCTDF.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, effectiveness, and how the body processes and responds to osivelotor in people with sickle cell disease SCD. This multicenter, Phase 23 study focuses on both adults and adolescents with SCD, aiming to determine the best dose and assess the drugs effects over time. The study has three parts. Part A tests safety, tolerability, and dose-finding in adults with SCD, starting with randomization to different daily doses of osivelotor, ranging from 100 mg to potentially 200 mg, over 12 weeks. Part B compares osivelotor to placebo in adults and adolescents over 48 weeks, with adults receiving an initial 300 mg daily dose for 7 days followed by 150 mg daily, while adolescent dosing will be defined later. The Open Label Extension OLE offers long-term open-label osivelotor treatment for up to two years after Part B. Participants will be monitored throughout the study with regular visits to assess safety, blood responses, and how well they tolerate the medication. The main results will be reviewed through 12 weeks in Part A, 48 weeks in Part B, and approximately 24 months in the OLE. The study includes blood tests, monitoring of vaso-occlusive crises, and other health evaluations to understand osivelotors effects and safety over time.

Researchers are evaluating the long-term safety and effects of etavopivat, a new oral medicine being developed for inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. These conditions affect haemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. This phase 3 study involves participants who have already completed treatment in a prior etavopivat study and aims to understand how etavopivat performs over an extended period of up to 264 weeks, though the study may end earlier if the drug gains approval locally. Participants will receive oral doses of etavopivat, with different forms A, B, or C given based on their age and condition. Those aged 12 years and older will receive etavopivat A or C, while children under 12 years will receive etavopivat B. The study includes several groups covering various sickle cell disease and thalassaemia categories, including transfusion-dependent and non-transfusion-dependent cases. Treatment is continuous during the study period. Throughout the study, participants will undergo regular monitoring for side effects and treatment responses, including tracking treatment emergent adverse events, hospitalizations, vaso-occlusive crises, hemoglobin concentration changes, and blood transfusion needs. These assessments will help evaluate the drugs safety and efficacy across age groups and disease types. The study is open-label and non-randomized, with follow-up lasting up to about six years.

Researchers are evaluating new medicines to prevent infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 HIV-1. This Phase 3 clinical trial aims to find out if taking MK-8527 once a month is more effective than a daily standard pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP in preventing HIV-1 infection in women. The study also monitors the safety and tolerability of MK-8527 compared to standard treatment. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group receives 11 mg of MK-8527 once monthly along with a placebo daily pill resembling EmtricitabineTenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate FTCTDF, and the other group receives the daily FTCTDF pill plus a monthly placebo resembling MK-8527. This treatment phase lasts for up to approximately two years. Afterward, all participants take open-label FTCTDF daily for an additional 28 days. During the study, participants attend regular visits for up to about two years, during which researchers check for new HIV-1 infections, record any adverse events or side effects, and monitor if participants stop the study medication due to side effects. The primary outcomes include the number of participants who acquire HIV-1 infection, those who experience adverse events, and those who discontinue due to adverse events, all tracked over the treatment period.

Researchers are conducting a Phase III, randomized, open-label multicenter study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of giredestrant compared with fulvestrant. Both drugs are combined with the investigators choice of a CDK46 inhibitor palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib in participants with estrogen receptor-positive ER, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer who have become resistant to prior adjuvant endocrine therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will receive giredestrant 30 mg orally daily on Days 1-28 of each 28-day cycle, while the other will receive fulvestrant 500 mg intramuscularly on Days 1 and 15 of Cycle 1 and Day 1 of subsequent 28-day cycles. Both groups will also receive a CDK46 inhibitor chosen by the investigator, with dosing schedules depending on the specific inhibitor selected. Preperimenopausal women and men will receive a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone LHRH agonist during treatment. Participants will be assessed for progression-free survival over up to 5 years, with additional measures including overall survival, response rates, duration of response, clinical benefit, and quality of life. Safety will be monitored through adverse event reporting, vital signs, and laboratory tests during treatment and up to 28 days after the last dose. The study is led by Hoffmann-La Roche and aims to provide detailed information on the treatments effects in this patient population.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of etavopivat in adolescents and adults with sickle cell disease. This study aims to confirm whether etavopivat reduces the number of painful vaso-occlusive crises caused by blood vessel blockages. It also examines if the medicine helps reduce organ damage, improve exercise tolerance, and decrease fatigue. The study is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial lasting about two years. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either oral etavopivat or a placebo. The treatment is given by mouth, and neither the participants nor the researchers know which treatment is given during the study to ensure impartial results. The primary treatment period is 52 weeks, during which the number of vaso-occlusive crises with medical contact will be measured. Secondary assessments include changes in hemoglobin levels, fatigue scores, walking distance, and other blood markers related to sickle cell disease. During the trial, participants will undergo regular evaluations including blood tests, walking tests, and fatigue assessments from baseline to week 52. Researchers will monitor the safety and effectiveness of etavopivat throughout the study. The total participation time is about two years, with ongoing follow-ups to observe the treatment effects and any side effects. All procedures aim to provide detailed information on how etavopivat affects sickle cell disease symptoms and patient well-being.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of inavolisib combined with Phesgo compared to a placebo combined with Phesgo as maintenance treatment for participants with previously untreated HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has a PIK3CA mutation. This Phase 3 study focuses on participants with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have completed induction therapy. Participants first receive induction therapy with Phesgo plus taxane-based chemotherapy. Following this, they enter the maintenance phase where they are randomly assigned to receive either inavolisib tablets taken orally once daily for 21 days of each 21-day cycle along with Phesgo administered subcutaneously every 3 weeks, or a matching placebo tablet with Phesgo on the same schedule. Optional endocrine therapy may be given based on the investigators choice according to standard care. Throughout the study, participants undergo regular monitoring including tumor assessments, quality of life questionnaires, and safety evaluations lasting up to approximately 111 months. Key outcomes measured include progression-free survival assessed by investigators, overall survival, response rates, duration of response, and adverse event rates. Plasma concentrations of inavolisib are also measured at specific timepoints. Participants will be followed closely during and after treatment to assess these outcomes over an extended period.

Researchers are evaluating the efficacy, safety, and immune response of MTBVAC, a candidate vaccine against tuberculosis TB, in adolescents and adults aged 14 to 45 years living in regions where TB is common. This Phase 2b study is randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, aiming to compare MTBVAC to a placebo in preventing TB disease, particularly in participants who have tested positive or negative for latent TB infection using IGRA tests. Most participants likely received BCG vaccination in infancy. Participants are assigned to receive a single intradermal dose of MTBVAC at 5x105 CFU or placebo on Study Day 1. Those who test IGRA-positive at baseline are randomized 11 to either MTBVAC or placebo, while IGRA-negative participants are randomized 31. Subgroups of participants will be closely monitored for safety and immune responses, with specific evaluations in selected safety and immunogenicity sub-cohorts. The study also includes follow-up screening for pulmonary TB disease and HIV testing yearly and during suspected TB episodes. During the study, participants will attend regular visits or have contacts to monitor for TB signs and symptoms, with sputum tests performed if TB is suspected. Safety assessments include monitoring adverse events and laboratory tests in sub-cohorts. The main outcome is the protective effect of MTBVAC against bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB over 36 months, along with safety and immune response evaluations. Participants diagnosed with TB will be referred for standard treatment, and those who seroconvert for HIV will receive appropriate care. The study runs until March 2028.

This research aims to evaluate the long-term safety and explore the efficacy of astegolimab in adults aged 40 to 90 years with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. It focuses on participants who have completed a 52-week placebo-controlled treatment period in previous studies GB43311 or GB44332. The study is a phase 3, open-label extension to gather extended safety information on this drug in COPD patients. Participants from the parent studies who qualify will receive subcutaneous injections of astegolimab every two weeks throughout the study until it ends. This open-label extension allows all participants to receive the active drug without placebo comparison. The study continues treatment beyond the initial 52-week period to monitor long-term effects. During the study, participants will be monitored for adverse events up to 12 weeks after their last dose of astegolimab. Researchers will collect safety data to understand the incidence of any side effects. The study involves regular assessments and follow-ups to ensure participant well-being, with the total duration lasting until July 2034.

This research aims to evaluate a multi-component care strategy called DADA LINK to improve cervical cancer screening and treatment connection among women aged 25 to 49 years in Kenya. The highest rates of cervical cancer occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with it being the leading cause of cancer death among Kenyan women. This study focuses on overcoming barriers at the patient, provider, and facility levels by using tailored strategies based on earlier research and clinic assessments in Nairobi County. The trial compares clinics using the DADA LINK integrated care package, which includes HPV self-sampling kits, care navigation by trained non-physician staff, and use of a mobile health platform called WEMA, against clinics continuing usual care practices. Care coordinators at intervention clinics motivate staff to follow cervical cancer care guidelines, collect patient exit survey data, and manage screening and treatment tracking through the WEMA app. The study lasts 12 months, with an additional 6-month follow-up to assess costs and maintenance of the care strategies. Participants cervical cancer screening and treatment data will be collected from clinic records by study staff. Researchers will measure how many women complete screening during clinic visits and how many receive follow-up triage or treatment within 12 months. The WEMA system also supports communication with patients via text messages to improve attendance. This comprehensive monitoring aims to assess both the implementation and effectiveness of the care package over the study period.