Vientiane

Researchers are evaluating the antiviral effects of various treatments in adults aged 18 to 60 with early symptomatic influenza. This phase 2, multi-centre, adaptive platform trial compares several licensed influenza antiviral drugs and others with potential activity against the virus. The study aims to provide clear comparisons of antiviral activity to help guide treatment decisions and policy development. Participants may receive one of several antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir, favipiravir, zanamivir, baloxavir, molnupiravir, peramivir, laninamivir, or combinations of these medications. There is also a control group that receives no antiviral treatment except paracetamol for fever. Dosages and administration routes vary by drug and include oral, inhaled, and intravenous methods. The trial uses randomization to assign treatments, with at least 20% of participants assigned to the no treatment group. During the first five days, researchers will monitor the rate of viral clearance to assess antiviral activity. Additional measures include symptom relief and fever duration over 14 days. Participants will be closely followed up, with assessments including rapid antigen or PCR tests for influenza, symptom tracking, and safety monitoring. The total study period covers initial treatment and observation up to two weeks after starting treatment.

Researchers are evaluating antiviral treatments for Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV in low-risk adults aged 18 to under 65 years with early symptoms. This adaptive, open-label, randomized platform trial compares licensed and potential antiviral drugs against no treatment to assess their antiviral effects in patients with high viral loads and uncomplicated RSV infections. The study is funded by the Wellcome Trust and led by the University of Oxford. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of several antiviral drugs or no antiviral treatment. The study drugs include oral ribavirin, dosed based on weight three times daily for 5 days molnupiravir, given twice daily for 5 days and favipiravir, with a higher dose on Day 0 followed by a lower dose twice daily for 4 more days. The control group will receive supportive care without antiviral drugs. The trial maintains a minimum 20% allocation to no-treatment control throughout its duration. Participants will be involved for 28 days, during which researchers will measure the rate of viral clearance from Days 0 to 5, assess symptom relief and fever duration up to Day 14, and monitor for possible drug resistance. Evaluations include rapid antigen or PCR tests for RSV, symptom reporting, and clinical assessments. The study also tracks safety and antiviral effects, with follow-up visits planned to monitor progress and outcomes.

Researchers are studying acute febrile illness in patients older than 28 days who live in rural areas of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand including the Thai-Myanmar border region, and Bangladesh. This observational study aims to describe the causes, clinical outcomes, and host biomarkers associated with these illnesses, which last 14 days or less. The study is part of a larger community-based network seeking to improve understanding and future interventions for febrile illness in low- and middle-income countries in South and Southeast Asia. The study involves two main parts Work Package A collects data from village health workers and local health facilities to understand the incidence and outcomes of febrile illness at the community level. Work Package B recruits patients seeking care at higher-level health facilities who may be more severely ill. In Work Package B, researchers collect various samples including venous blood and respiratory specimens for detailed diagnostic testing such as blood cultures, serological assays, molecular diagnostics, and host biomarker assays. Participants will be monitored for about one month to measure the prevalence of pathogens and recovery status. The study will analyze the association between host biomarkers and clinical outcomes to help create electronic decision-support tools for village health workers. These tools and other interventions will be tested later to improve assessment, triage, and treatment of patients with febrile illness. The total duration of participation and follow-up is approximately one month.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of different doses of arpraziquantel in children aged 6 to 7 years who are infected with Opisthorchis viverrini. This parasite infection is common in young children and often goes untreated in current public health programs. The main goal is to understand how various doses affect the cure rate of the infection. Participants will receive a single oral dose of arpraziquantel at one of several ascending dose levels 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 mg per kg of body weight. This dose-ranging trial is randomized and single-blind, with children assigned to one of these dosing groups. The study will assess the response after treatment and monitor safety at multiple time points. Children will be asked to provide stool samples before treatment and again 21 to 28 days afterward to measure cure rates and egg reduction rates. Safety and tolerability will be monitored at 3 hours, 24 hours, 21-28 days, and 42 days after treatment. The study participation involves follow-up assessments to collect these samples and monitor health, lasting up to about six weeks after treatment.

Researchers are evaluating antiviral treatments for adults with early symptomatic COVID-19 who have high viral loads but are at low risk of severe illness. This Phase 2 trial aims to develop and validate a way to measure how well these treatments reduce the amount of virus in the body. The study compares three types of interventionssmall molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and dose adjustments for nirmatrelvirritonaviragainst a control group that receives no antiviral treatment. The trial is adaptive and is supported by the Wellcome Trust through the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator. The treatments studied include various small molecule drugs like nitazoxanide, nirmatrelvirritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, atilotrelvirritonavir, metformin, and monoclonal antibodies such as sotrovimab and others as they become available. Some treatment arms have been closed after meeting stopping criteria. Participants are randomly assigned to receive one of the available antiviral drugs or no treatment, with at least 20% assigned to the control group. Dosages vary by drug and are typically administered over 5 to 7 days. Participants will be monitored closely over the first 14 days, with daily assessments of viral levels and symptoms. Researchers will measure how quickly the virus clears from the body compared to no treatment or positive control arms. Additional outcomes include fever resolution and symptom improvement. Participants must be able to walk unaided and agree to follow-up visits. The study runs until January 2027 and aims to determine optimal dosing and antiviral effectiveness in early COVID-19 infection.

This research aims to understand how national medical oxygen strategies work and achieve impact at both national and local levels across different countries. It focuses on health systems and policy contexts in six countries involved in the Medical Oxygen Implementation program. The study seeks to involve policymakers, implementers, and medical oxygen users to identify challenges and find potential solutions to improve access to medical oxygen. Researchers also aim to generate new data and draw lessons that can inform national and global policy and practice. The study uses a mixed-methods design with three embedded parts stakeholder analysis, policy-implementation gap analysis, and comparative country case studies. It involves interviews with key informants from government, NGOs, professional associations, private sector, and civil society. The study is conducted in six countries and will be adapted to each context through ongoing collaboration with stakeholders. The research will run for four years and includes annual meetings to refine study topics and methods. Participants will take part in in-depth interviews focusing on national medical oxygen strategies over the four-year study period. Researchers will review policies, analyze program data, and compare findings across countries. The study will monitor how strategies are translated into action and their effects on oxygen service coverage. This involves collecting qualitative and quantitative data to better understand the implementation and challenges of medical oxygen programs within different health systems.

This research aims to develop and evaluate a mobile health mHealth technology to help adult smokers in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic quit smoking cigarettes. The project addresses the high smoking rates among adults in Lao PDR, especially men, by adapting an automated, personalized smartphone-based intervention for smoking cessation. The study includes two main phases a formative research phase to adapt the intervention to local culture and language, and a randomized controlled trial RCT to test its effectiveness. The study involves two groups of adult smokers recruited from hospitals in Lao PDR. One group receives Standard Care, which includes brief advice to quit, self-help written materials, and a 2-week supply of nicotine patches. The other group receives Automated Treatment, which includes all Standard Care components plus a 26-week personalized smartphone program delivering interactive messages, images, and videos designed to support quitting. The intervention content is tailored to individuals quit attempts, coping skills, health conditions, and smoking status over time. Participants will complete baseline assessments and receive training on smartphone use if needed. Follow-up includes weekly smartphone assessments for six months for the Automated Treatment group and diet assessments for the Standard Care group. Researchers will monitor smoking status through biochemical confirmation and self-report at 3 and 12 months. The primary outcome is the rate of smoking cessation 12 months after enrollment. The study also aims to build local research capacity and improve tobacco cessation services in Lao PDR.

Researchers are studying murine typhus and scrub typhus, infectious diseases caused by bacteria transmitted by fleas and mites. These diseases can be difficult to diagnose due to non-specific symptoms and limited diagnostic tools. The trial aims to evaluate early clearance of these bacteria from the blood in patients treated with two antibiotics, doxycycline and azithromycin, to better understand treatment responses and bacterial load relationships. Participants will receive either doxycycline or azithromycin followed by doxycycline. Doxycycline treatment involves a 200-mg loading dose and then 100 mg every 12 hours for 3 days, while azithromycin is given with a 500-mg loading dose followed by 250 mg daily for 2 days, then switched to doxycycline. The study compares these regimens and monitors drug levels in blood and cells over time to assess how the bacteria clear during treatment. During the study, participants will have blood samples taken frequently within 72 hours after treatment to measure bacterial DNA using PCR. Researchers will also track drug levels in plasma and blood cells for up to two weeks. Other assessments include fever clearance time, safety monitoring up to 28 days, and evaluating new rapid diagnostic tests. Participants will remain hospitalized for at least 36 hours and return for follow-up visits as scheduled to complete the study procedures.

This research aims to find the best single dose of tafenoquine to treat Plasmodium vivax malaria in Southeast Asia. Tafenoquine is a recently approved alternative to the 14-day primaquine treatment for the dormant liver stage of this malaria type. Previous studies showed the standard 300 mg tafenoquine dose was less effective in Southeast Asia compared to higher doses of primaquine, highlighting the need to optimize tafenoquine dosing. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the current recommended tafenoquine dose or a 50% higher dose, both given as a single dose based on weight bands. An additional arm with high-dose primaquine is included only in Indonesia to compare with national treatment standards. All tafenoquine doses will be given with a schizonticidal agent, such as chloroquine or artemether-lumefantrine, with drug administration closely observed by study staff. Participants will be followed daily until malaria parasites clear, then at scheduled visits up to four months to monitor for recurrence and side effects. Study activities include blood tests, physical exams, vital signs, pregnancy and enzyme activity testing, and adverse event tracking. Data will be securely recorded and analyzed to compare treatment effectiveness and safety. Participants may withdraw at any time, and those with ongoing issues at study end will receive appropriate follow-up care.