Clinical trial NCT03454048
Conditions: Malaria,Falciparum Gametocytes Controlled Human Malaria Infection Transmission
Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center
Start date: 2018-05-07; Completion date: 2018-11-20
Enrollment: 24 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
This is a single-center, open label study. The primary aim of this project is to develop a controlled human malaria infection transmission model ("CHMI-trans") or "challenge model" to evaluate the capacity of vaccines, biologics (monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs), and drugs to block malaria parasite transmission by assessing infectiousness of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) gametocyte carriers for Anopheles mosquitoes.

Detailed description:
A total of 24 volunteers, in two cohorts (n=12), will be randomly assigned to two groups per cohort (n=6). Cohort A will be subjected to a standard controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) delivered by five Pf-infected mosquitoes (groups 1 and 2). Cohort B will be subjected to a standard blood stage challenge with \~2,800 Pf-infected erythrocytes by intravenous injection (groups 3 and 4).

Treatment is subsequently initiated to induce gametocytemia (treatment 1, T1) and to clear pathogenic asexual parasites whilst leaving gametocytes unaffected (treatment 2 and 3, T2 and T3). At the end of the study, treatment of all parasite stages is provided following national treatment guidelines (end treatment, ET).

Once malaria infections are detected by 18S qPCR positive (sporozoite challenge) or on day 8 (blood stage challenge), all volunteers will be treated with a single oral subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Using blood samples taken twice daily, the initial clearance of parasitemia will be carefully monitored. After T1, volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. On day 21 or when a recrudescence occurs after T2, volunteers in group 1 and 3 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with piperaquine (960mg) and group 2 and 4 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg). These treatment regimens cure asexual parasitemia while leaving immature and mature gametocytes unaffected. To ensure the radical clearance of all parasite stages, all volunteers will receive a final treatment (ET) according to national guidelines with atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) on day 36. Daily blood samples will allow detailed quantification of gametocytes, gametocyte sex ratio and ex vivo assessments of gametocyte fitness. Additionally, blood samples will be obtained for Direct Membrane Feeding Assay (DMFA) and volunteers will be subjected to Direct Skin Feeding Assays (DFA). These assays will provide evidence on the infectivity of volunteers.

Arms: arm 1: Cohort A will be subjected to a standard controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) delivered by five Pf-infected mosquitoes. All volunteers will be treated with a single oral subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. Volunteers in group 1 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with piperaquine (960mg). arm 2: Cohort A will be subjected to a standard controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) delivered by five Pf-infected mosquitoes. All volunteers will be treated with a single oral subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. Volunteers in group 2(LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) will be curatively treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg). arm 3: Cohort B will be subjected to a standard blood stage challenge with \~2,800 Pf-infected erythrocytes by intravenous injection. All volunteers will be treated with a single oral subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. Volunteers in group 3 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with piperaquine (960mg) arm 4: Cohort B will be subjected to a standard blood stage challenge with \~2,800 Pf-infected erythrocytes by intravenous injection. All volunteers will be treated with a single oral subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. Volunteers in group 4 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) will be curatively treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg).
Interventions: intervention 1: Piperaquine (low dose) intervention 2: Piperaquine (high dose) intervention 3: Sulfadoxine pyrimethamine intervention 4: Atovaquone Proguanil intervention 5: malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum 3D7 intervention 6: Blood stage malaria challenge infection, P. falciparum 3D7
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: subcurative regimen (480 mg) intervention 2: Curative regimen (960mg) intervention 3: Curative regimen (1000mg/50mg) intervention 4: Curative regimen (1000/400 mg, for 3 days) intervention 5: malaria challenge infection by P. falciparum 3D7-infected mosquito bites intervention 6: P. falciparum 3D7-infected human erythrocytes administered intravenously for the purpose controlled human malaria infection.

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
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CONFIDENTIAL 
 
CLINICAL TRIAL PROTOCOL 
 
 (23 January 2018) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection model for evaluation of 
transmission-blocking interventions – Study 2 
 
 
Version 3.0, 23-January-2018 
 
(“CHMI-trans2”) 


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PROTOCOL TITLE: ‘Controlled Human Malaria Infection study to assess gametocytemia and mosquito 
transmissibility in participants challenged with Plasmodium falciparum by sporozoite or blood stage 
challenge to establish a model for the evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions’ 
 
Protocol ID 
CHMI-trans2 
Short title 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection model for evaluation 
of transmission-blocking interventions – Study 2 
Toetsingonlinenummer 
NL63552.000.17 
EudraCT number  
2017-004005-40 
Version 
2.0 
Date 
25-11-2017 
Project leader/Clinical investigator 
 
Isaie J. Reuling, M.D. 
Radboudumc, Department of Medical Microbiology 
Tel: +31 (0)24 361 9515 
Fax: +31 (0)24 3614666 
E-mail: isaie.reuling@radboudumc.nl 
Sponsor 
 
 
 
Principal Investigator 
Stichting Katholieke Universiteit  
Radboud University Medical Centre (Radboudumc) 
Department of Medical Microbiology 
Geert Grooteplein-Zuid 10 
6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands 
 
Prof. Robert W. Sauerwein, M.D. 
Radboudumc, Department of Medical Microbiology 
Tel: +31243610577  
Fax: +31243614666 
e-mail: robert.sauerwein@radboudumc.nl 
 
Sub- investigator 
Dr. Teun Bousema 
Radboudumc, Department of Medical Microbiology 
Tel: +31243617574 
Fax: +31243540216 
e-mail: teun.bousema@radboudumc.nl 
 
 
Funding partner 
 
PATH 
2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200 
Seattle, Washington 
98121, USA 
 
 
 


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Clinical supervisors 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Biological evaluator 
Prof. André van der Ven, M.D. 
Radboudumc, Department of Internal Medicine 
Tel: +31 24 368 6791 
e-mail: andre.vanderven@radboudumc.nl 
 
Dr. Quirijn de Mast, M.D. 
Radboudumc, Department of Internal Medicine 
Tel: +31 24 361 0929 
e-mail: quirijn.demast@radboudumc.nl 
 
Dr. Kjerstin Lanke  
Radboudumc, Department of Medical Microbiology 
Tel: +31 (0)24 361 9186 
E-mail: kjerstin.lanke@radboudumc.nl 
 
Matthijs Jore, PhD 
Radboudumc, Department of Medical Microbiology 
Tel: +31 (0)24 361 0583 
E-mail: Matthijs.Jore@radboudumc.nl 
 
 
Independent expert (s) 
Radboudumc 
Department of Internal Medicine 
Dr. Monique Keuter 
Tel : +31 (0)24 361 4462  
Monique.Keuter@radboudumc.nl 
Laboratory sites  
Radboudumc Clinical Chemical Laboratory 
Jan Verhagen 
Tel: +31 (0)24 3616997  
Fax: +31 (0)24 3568408  
e-mail: j.verhagen@akc.umcn.nl 
 
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory 
Prof.dr. Heiman Wertheim 
Tel: +31 (0)24 36 14281 
e-mail: Heiman.Wertheim@radboudumc.nl 
 
Pharmacy  
Radboudumc Clinical Pharmacy 
Clinical Trial Unit 
Dr. Rob ter Heine 
Tel: +31 (0)24 3616405 
Fax: +31 (0)24 3668755  
e-mail: R.terHeine@radboudumc.nl 
 
 


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External monitor 
CROMSOURCE 
Lange Dreef 11H 
4131 NJ Vianen, The Netherlands 
Tel: +31 347 344977 ext. 2614 
Fax: +31 347 34 42 89 
Mobile: +31 6 13516468 


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PROTOCOL SIGNATURE SHEET 
Investigator Agreement 
“I have read this protocol and agree to abide by all provisions set forth therein. 
I agree to comply with the principles of the International Conference on Harmonisation Tripartite 
Guideline on Good Clinical Practice.” 
Name 
Signature 
Date 
Principal investigator: 
Robert Sauerwein, MD, PhD 
Department of Medical Microbiology 
Radboud university medical center  
 
 
Sub-investigator: 
Teun Bousema, PhD 
Department of Medical Microbiology 
Radboud university medical center 
 
 
Project leader: 
Isaie Reuling, MD 
Department of Medical Microbiology 
Radboud university medical center 
 
 
 
Version History 
Version 
Date 
Author(s) 
Summary of changes 
2.0 
25 November 
2017 
Isaie Reuling 
Robert Sauerwein 
Teun Bousema 
- 
Exploratory objective (skin odor) is 
removed from protocol. 
- 
Section 9.3.2 has been adapted 
(ALT/AST treatment criteria). 
- 
Extra information added on 
treatment threshold added to section 
1.2 and 7.4. 
- 
Additional information on 
exploratory objective is added in 
section 9.3.14. 
- 
Extra information on adverse events 
in previous studies have been added 
to section 1.2, 7.4, and 8.4. 
- 
Adjusted the piperaquine tablet 
strength to 160mg. 
- 
Additional information on biological 
samples of study in section 13.1.1. 
3.0 
23 January 2018 
Isaie Reuling 
Robert Sauerwein 
Teun Bousema 
- 
Eploratory objective on elevated 
transaminases has been added to section 
2 and 9.1.3 
- 
Rh(c) and/or Rh(e) negative women will 


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be excluded to participate in cohort B. 
History of blood transfusion also 
excludes participation in Cohort B 
(Section 4.3, 8.4 and 14.5.) 
 
 
 
 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Inhoud 
1. 
INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE 
16 
1.1. 
Introduction 
16 
1.2. 
Rationale 
16 
1.3. 
Clinical Experience 
18 
1.4. 
Safety 
18 
2. 
OBJECTIVES 
21 
3. 
STUDY DESIGN 
22 
4. 
STUDY POPULATION 
24 
4.1. 
Population (base) 
24 
4.2. 
Inclusion criteria 
24 
4.3. 
Exclusion criteria 
25 
5. 
SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION 
27 
TREATMENT OF SUBJECTS 
28 
5.1. 
Investigational product/treatments (for T1,T2, and T3) 
28 
5.2. 
Investigational product Use of co-intervention 
28 
5.3. 
Escape medication (if applicable) 
28 
6. 
INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (TREATMENT PRODUCT) 
29 
6.1. 
Name and description of investigational products 
29 
6.2. 
Summary of findings from non-clinical studies 
29 
6.3. 
Summary of findings from clinical studies 
29 
6.3.1. 
Clinical data for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
29 
6.3.2. 
Clinical data for Piperaquine 
29 
6.3.3. 
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
30 
6.3.4. 
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Piperaquine 
30 
6.3.5. 
Safety and tolerability of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
31 
6.3.6. 
Safety and tolerability of Piperaquine 
31 
6.4. 
Drug and dose selection rationale 
31 
6.5. 
Potential Risks 
32 
6.6. 
Potential Benefits 
33 
6.7. 
Risk Management 
33 
6.8. 
Preparation and labeling of Investigational Medicinal Product 
33 
6.9. 
Drug accountability 
34 
7. 
NON-INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (SPOROZOITE CHALLENGE PRODUCT) 
35 
7.1. 
Name and description of non-investigational product(s) 
35 
7.2. 
Summary of findings from non-clinical studies 
35 
7.3. 
Summary of findings from clinical studies 
35 
7.4. 
Summary of known and potential risks and benefits 
35 
7.5. 
Description and justification of route of administration and dosage 
36 
7.6. 
Dosages, dosage modifications and method of administration 
36 
7.7. 
Preparation and labeling of Non Investigational Medicinal Product 
37 
7.8. 
Drug accountability 
37 
8. 
NON-INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (BLOOD STAGE CHALLENGE PRODUCT) 
38 
8.1. 
Name and description of non-investigational product(s) 
38 
8.2. 
Summary of findings from non-clinical studies 
38 
8.3. 
Summary of findings from clinical studies 
38 
8.4. 
Summary of known and potential risks and benefits 
38 
8.5. 
Description of route of administration and dosage 
39 
8.6. 
Preparation and labeling of Non Investigational Medicinal Product 
39 


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8.7. 
Drug accountability 
40 
9. 
METHODS 
41 
9.1. 
Study parameters/endpoints 
41 
9.1.1. 
Main study parameter/endpoint 
41 
9.1.2. 
Secondary study parameters/endpoints 
41 
9.1.3. 
Exploratory study parameters/endpoints 
41 
9.2. 
Randomisation, blinding and treatment allocation 
41 
9.3. 
Study procedures 
42 
9.3.1. 
Screening period: Screening, Inclusion and Baseline visits 
42 
9.3.2. 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection 
42 
9.3.3. 
Treatment with piperaquine (T1, T2, and T3 for group 1 and 3) 
44 
9.3.4. 
Treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (T3 for groups 2 and 4) 
45 
9.3.5. 
Treatment with Malarone® (ET) 
45 
9.3.6. 
Physical examination 
45 
9.3.7. 
Vital signs 
45 
9.3.8. 
Patient-reported outcomes (study diary) 
46 
9.3.9. 
Electrocardiogram 
46 
9.3.10. 
Blood sampling and safety laboratory evaluations 
46 
9.3.11. 
Analysis of asexual parasite densities after challenge infection 
47 
9.3.12. 
Direct Membrane Feeding Assays (DMFA) and Direct Skin Feeding Assays (DFA) 
47 
9.3.13. 
Quantification of gametocytes, and gametocyte sex ratio. 
48 
9.3.14. 
Immunological assays 
49 
9.3.15. 
Case report forms and data collection 
49 
9.3.16. 
Flowchart Study Design 
50 
9.4. 
Withdrawal of individual subjects 
54 
9.5. 
Replacement of individual subjects after withdrawal 
54 
9.6. 
Follow-up of subjects withdrawn from treatment 
55 
9.7. 
Premature termination of the study 
55 
10. 
SAFETY REPORTING 
56 
10.1. 
Temporary halt for reasons of subject safety 
56 
10.2. 
AEs, SAEs and SUSARs 
56 
10.2.1. 
Adverse events (AEs) 
56 
10.2.2. 
Serious adverse events (SAEs) 
56 
10.2.3. 
Suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) 
57 
10.3. 
Follow-up of (serious) adverse events 
57 
10.3.1. 
Adverse event data collection 
57 
10.3.2. 
Assessment of causality 
58 
10.3.3. 
Follow-up of adverse events 
58 
10.4. 
Local Safety Monitor (LSM) and Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) 
58 
10.4.1. 
Local safety monitor 
58 
10.4.2. 
Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) 
59 
10.4.3. 
Review of safety data by the safety monitor and SMC 
59 
10.4.4. 
Safety stopping rules 
59 
11. 
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 
61 
11.1. 
Primary study parameter(s) 
61 
11.2. 
Secondary study parameter(s) 
61 
11.3. 
Other study parameters 
62 
12. 
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 
63 
12.1. 
Regulation statement 
63 
12.2. 
Recruitment and consent 
63 
12.3. 
Benefits and risks assessment, group relatedness 
63 
12.4. 
Ethical aspects concerning the production of P. falciparum infected mosquitoes 
64 


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12.5. 
Ethical aspects concerning the use of human volunteers 
64 
12.6. 
Compensation for injury 
64 
12.7. 
Incentives 
65 
13. 
ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS, MONITORING AND PUBLICATION 
66 
13.1. 
Handling and storage of data and documents 
66 
13.1.1. 
Confidentiality 
66 
13.1.2. 
Data collection 
66 
13.1.3. 
Database management and quality control 
66 
13.2. 
Monitoring and Quality Assurance 
66 
13.3. 
Amendments 
67 
13.4. 
Annual progress report 
67 
13.5. 
Temporary halt and (prematurely) end of study report 
67 
13.6. 
Public disclosure and publication policy 
68 
14. 
STRUCTURED RISK ANALYSIS 
69 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection 
69 
14.1. 
Potential issues of concern 
69 
14.2. 
Cardiac events following Controlled Human Malaria Infections 
71 
14.3. 
Transient liver function test derangements 
73 
14.4. 
Transient serum creatinine elevations 
74 
14.5. 
Risk management of reaction to the blood stage inoculum sample 
74 
14.6. 
Synthesis 
75 
15. 
REFERENCES 
76 
16. 
APPENDICES 
82 
 


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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND RELEVANT DEFINITIONS  
 
 
A.  
Anopheles  
ACT 
Artemisinin-Based Combination Treatment 
AE 
Adverse Event 
AL 
artemether–lumefantrine  
ALT 
Alanine Aminotransferase 
ANOVA  
analysis of variance 
AR 
Adverse Reaction 
BMI 
Body mass index  
BP 
Blood pressure 
BSL 
Biosafety Level 
CA 
Competent Authority 
CCMO 
Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects; in Dutch: Centrale 
Commissie Mensgebonden Onderzoek 
CHMI 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection 
CHMI-trans 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection Transmission Model 
CRF 
Case Report Form 
CRO 
Contract Research Organization 
CV 
Curriculum Vitae 
DFA 
Direct Skin Feeding Assay 
DHA 
dihydroartemisinine 
DHA-PQP 
Dihydroartemisinine - piperaquine phosphate 
DMFA 
Direct Membrane Feeding Assay 
T1 
T2 
T3 
Treatment 1  
Treatment 2 
Treatment 3 
ECG  
ElektroCardioGram 
EDTA 
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 
ET 
End Treatment with Malarone® 
eCRF 
electronic Case Report Form 
ELISA 
Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay 
G6PD  
Glucose-6-phophatedehydrogenase deficiency 
GCP 
Good Clinical Practice 
GP 
General Practitioner  
HBV 
Hepatitis B Virus 
HCV 
Hepatitis C Virus 
HDPE 
high density polyethylene  
HIV 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus 
HTLV 
HumanT-lymphotropic Virus 
IC 
Informed Consent 
IFN-γ 
Interferon-gamma 
IL-1β 
Interleukin 1β 
IL-6 
Interleukin 6 
IPTp 
intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy 


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IRB 
Institutional Review Board 
ITN 
insecticide-impregnated bednets 
IV 
Intravenous 
LDH 
LD-PIP 
Lactate dehydrogenase 
Low dose of piperaquine (480mg) 
LSM 
Local Safety Monitor 
mAbs 
Monoclonal antibodies 
METC  
Medical research ethics committee (MREC); in Dutch: medisch ethische toetsing 
commissie (METC) 
MFS 
Membrane Feed for Sporozoite production 
NaCl  
Sodium Chloride 
NF54 
Nijmegen falciparum strain 54 
NK cells 
Natural killer cells 
P. 
Plasmodium 
par/ml 
or 
p/ml 
PATH REC 
PBMC 
parasites per milliliter 
 
PATH Research Ethics Committee; the funding partner’s ethical committee. 
Peripheral blood mononuclear cell 
PCR 
Polymerase Chain Reaction 
Pf 
Plasmodium falciparum 
PhHV 
Phocine Herpes Virus 
PIP 
Curative dose of piperaquine (960mg) 
qPCR 
Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction 
qRT-PCR 
Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction 
QT-NASBA 
Quantitative Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification 
Radboudumc 
Radboud university medical center 
SAE 
Sanquin 
Serious Adverse Event  
Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, who on the basis of the Blood Supply Act is 
responsible for all blood supply (blood and blood products) for transfusion in The 
Netherlands. 
SCORE 
Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 
SMC 
Safety Monitoring Committee 
SMFA 
Standard Membrane Feeding Assay 
SOP 
Standard Operating Procedure 
SP 
sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
SPC 
Summary of Product Characteristics  
Sponsor 
The sponsor is the party that commissions the organisation or performance of the 
research, for example a pharmaceutical company, academic hospital, scientific 
organisation or investigator. A party that provides funding for a study but does not 
commission it is not regarded as the sponsor, and is referred to here as a funding 
partner.  
SWAB 
Stichting Werkgroep Antibioticabeleid 
SUSAR 
Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction 
TBV(s) 
Transmission Blocking Vaccine(s) 
TNF-α 
Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha 


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WIRB 
Western Institutional Review Board; PATH’s designated IRB to who PATH REC 
delegates ethical review and oversight of clinical studies. 
WHO 
World Health Organization 
WMO 
Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (in Dutch: Wet Medisch-
wetenschappelijk Onderzoek met Mensen 
ZAVIN 
Ziekenhuis Afval Verwerkings Installatie Nederland (Hospital Waste Disposal 
company) 
γGT 
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase 


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SUMMARY 
 
Rationale:  
Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases worldwide. Despite all the progress that 
has been made in reducing the malaria burden, in 2015 there were still 212 million cases and 429,000 
deaths, mainly in children less than five years of age(1). In addition to the intolerable clinical burden, 
malaria forms a profound economic burden for the affected countries, which are already struggling 
with poverty. The urgency of the situation is further emphasized by the waning effectiveness of all 
currently registered anti-malarials due to fast emergence and spread of resistance and the absence 
of an highly effective vaccine(2). 
Malaria transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs) and transmission-blocking drugs aim to interrupt the 
development of parasites in the mosquito(3). TBVs will play a central role in efforts to reduce the 
malaria burden, to contain drug resistance and to move towards malaria elimination(2, 4). 
The clinical development of such transmission blocking interventions will be greatly accelerated by a 
suitable model for their evaluation.  
Controlled Human Malaria Infections (CHMI) are an established model for evaluation of malaria 
candidate vaccines and drugs targeting pre-erythrocytic or asexual blood stages.  
The primary aim of this project is to develop a controlled human malaria infection transmission 
model (“CHMI-trans”) or “challenge model” to evaluate the capacity of vaccines, biologics 
(monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs), and drugs to block malaria parasite transmission by assessing 
infectiousness of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) gametocyte carriers for Anopheles mosquitoes.  
 
Objective:  
Primary objectives: 
1) To evaluate the safety of CHMI-trans protocols in healthy malaria-naïve volunteers challenged 
with Plasmodium falciparum by sporozoite challenge and blood stage challenge.  
2) To assess gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through mosquito membrane 
feeding assay (Direct Membrane Feeding Assay, DMFA).  
 
Secondary objectives: 
3) To determine the dynamics of gametocyte commitment, maturation and sex ratio by molecular 
markers of sexual stage development. 
4) To determine the time-point of peak density of gametocytemia in the CHMI-trans model. 
5) To assess gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through mosquito feeding assay 
(Direct Skin Feeding Assay, DFA).  
 
Exploratory Objectives (see section 9.1.3 for detailed endpoints): 
6) To determine gametocyte fitness by molecular markers, and ex vivo assessments of gamete 
formation and fertilization. 
7) To analyse immune responses in volunteers exposed to a Plasmodium falciparum challenge 
infection 
 
 
 


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Study design:  
Single center, open label, randomized, sporozoite and blood stage challenge study. 
 
Study population:  
A maximum of 24 healthy volunteers, aged 18 to 35 years, male and female, will participate in the 
study. 
 
Intervention: 
A total of 24 volunteers, in two cohorts (n=12), will be randomly assigned to two groups per cohort 
(n=6). Cohort A will be subjected to a standard controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) delivered 
by five Pf-infected mosquitoes (groups 1 and 2). Cohort B will be subjected to a standard blood stage 
challenge with ~2,800 Pf-infected erythrocytes by intravenous injection (groups 3 and 4) (see Figure 
1, section 3).  
Treatment is subsequently initiated to induce gametocytemia (treatment 1, T1) and to clear 
pathogenic asexual parasites whilst leaving gametocytes unaffected (treatment 2 and 3, T2 and T3). 
At the end of the study, treatment of all parasite stages is provided following national treatment 
guidelines (end treatment, ET). 
Once malaria infections are detected by 18S qPCR positive at a density of 5,000 par/ml (sporozoite 
challenge) or on day 8 (blood stage challenge), all volunteers will be treated with a single oral 
subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Daily blood samples will allow detailed 
quantification of gametocytes and gametocyte sex ratio. Using blood samples taken twice daily, the 
initial clearance of parasitemia will be carefully monitored. After T1, volunteers will receive a second 
treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia (exceeding 1,500 par/ml by 
18S qPCR) occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. On day 21 or when a recrudescence occurs 
after T2, volunteers in group 1 and 3 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with 
piperaquine (960mg) and group 2 and 4 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
(1000mg/50mg). These treatment regimens cure asexual parasitemia while leaving immature and 
mature gametocytes unaffected(5). To ensure the radical clearance of all parasite stages, all 
volunteers will receive a final treatment (ET) according to national guidelines with 
atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) on day 36. In case a volunteer remains 18S qPCR and Pfs25 qRT-
PCR negative for 7 days after T1 or T2, final treatment with Malarone® will also be initiated and end 
of study will apply for the volunteer. On the day of administration of T3 and three days after 
initiation of T3, venous blood samples will be obtained for Direct Membrane Feeding Assay (DMFA). 
An additional blood sample will be taken for DMFA between day 7-21 after T3, the exact time-point 
being based on the density of gametocytemia as measured by Pfs25 qRT-PCR. In addition, on the 
DMFA days volunteers will be subjected to Direct Skin Feeding Assays (DFA) with one cup of 20-30 
mosquitoes, allowing mosquitoes to feed on the volunteer’s forearms. These assays will provide 
evidence on the infectivity of volunteers at these time-points. 
 
Main study parameters/endpoints:  
Primary endpoints: 
 
Frequency and magnitude of adverse events in the CHMI-trans model. 
 
Prevalence of gametocytes and gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through 
mosquito feeding assay (Direct Membrane Feeding Assay, DMFA). 
 


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Secondary endpoints: 
 
Peak density and time-point of peak density of gametocytes by qRT-PCR. 
 
The area under the curve of gametocyte density versus time.  
 
Assessment of the dynamics of gametocyte commitment, maturation and sex-ratio. 
 
Prevalence of gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through Direct Feeding 
Assays (Direct Skin Feeding Assay, DFA).  
 
Exploratory endpoints (see section 9.1.3 for detailed endpoints) 
 
Gamete formation and fertilization as ex vivo indicators of gametocyte fitness. 
 
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group 
relatedness:  
Benefits: There are no direct benefits for volunteers.  
Risks: Risks for volunteers are related to (i) exposure to P. falciparum malaria infection by mosquito 
bites, (ii) exposure to P. falciparum infected erythrocytes iii) potential side-effects associated with 
treatment medications. 
 
Burden: 
The study represents a challenge infection by bites of 5 (3D7 P. falciparum) infected mosquitoes or a 
blood stage malaria infection through inoculation of infected RBCs (3D7 P. falciparum). After the 
challenge there will be a period (36 days) of intense clinical monitoring with frequent site visits (up to 
two times a day) and blood examinations. The subjects will receive a sub-curative treatment (T1) 
with piperaquine when 18S qPCR positive at 5000 par/ml (threshold of microscopic detection) or on 
day 8 for the blood stage challenge. Using blood samples taken twice daily, the initial clearance of 
parasitemia will be carefully monitored. After T1, volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-
PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia (exceeding 1,500 par/ml by 18S qPCR) occurs 
before day 21 post challenge infection. On day 21 or when a recrudescence occurs after T2, 
volunteers in group 1 and 3 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with piperaquine 
(960mg) and group 2 and 4 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg). 
All volunteers will receive a final treatment (ET) according to national guidelines with Malarone® on 
day 36 to assure the radical clearance of all parasite stages. In case a volunteer remains 18S qPCR 
and Pfs25 qRT-PCR negative for 7 days after T1 or T2, final treatment with Malarone® will also be 
initiated and end of study will apply for the volunteer. The exact number of site visits and blood 
examinations per volunteer depends on the time to positive 18S qPCR above 5000 parasites/ml and 
potential recrudescence - with a maximum number of 45 study visits and a maximum of 500 mL 
collected blood. Periodical physical examinations will be performed and the subject is asked to 
complete a diary. In addition three direct skin feeds (DFA) will be performed with one cup of 20-30 
mosquitoes, allowing mosquitoes to feed on the volunteer’s forearms. The duration of subject 
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1. INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE 
1.1. Introduction 
Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases worldwide. Despite all the progress that 
has been made in reducing the burden of malaria by the up-scaling of protective measures and 
efficacious treatment(6), in 2015 there were still 212 million cases and 429,000 deaths, particularly of 
children less than five years of age(1). In addition to the appalling human suffering, this disease forms 
a profound economic burden for the affected countries, which are already struggling with poverty. 
The urgency of the situation is further emphasized by the waning effectiveness of all currently 
registered anti-malarials due to fast emergence and spread of resistance and the absence of an 
effective vaccine(2, 7). 
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared malaria control a global development priority 
and has changed their recommendation from control programs to eradication programs. It is widely 
accepted that malaria eradication is unlikely to be attainable with the currently available tools(6, 8). 
 
The major challenge for malaria elimination is the highly efficient spread of malaria parasites. Human 
malaria is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, 
and P. knowlesi. Parasites (sporozoite stage) are injected into the skin by an infected female 
Anopheles mosquito. After penetration of the skin capillaries, sporozoites are transported to the 
liver, where they develop and multiply in liver cells before release into the blood (merozoite stage) 
and invading red blood cells for further maturation and multiplication. The cyclical proliferation of 
asexual stages within the human red blood cells is responsible for the occurrence of clinical 
symptoms. A small fraction of asexual stages is committed to enter sexual development. The 
formation of male and female gametocytes are essential for parasite transmission via the female 
Anopheles mosquito vector. Circulating gametocytes do not cause clinical pathology or symptoms. 
The circulating gametocytes therefore have no clinical consequences but play an essential role in the 
onward transmission of malaria infections. The renewed focus on malaria elimination has increased 
the priority of research towards development of interventions to block malaria transmission, 
including transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs). By interrupting transmission of malaria parasites in 
mosquito vectors, a reduction in the number of secondary infections in the community is expected. 
TBVs will play an important role in complete arrest of malaria transmission in endemic areas(4, 9). 
Similarly, a number of gametocidal and/or sporontocidal drug candidates have been generated in 
recent years(10). From a community perspective, deployment of transmission-blocking drugs and 
TBVs will be an efficient complementary element in an integrated program of anti-malarial 
interventions, particularly for malaria elimination. 
 
1.2. Rationale 
Controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) studies have become a safe(11-13) and widely accepted 
model for evaluating the efficacy of vaccines(14), anti-malarial drug candidates(15-17), diagnostic 
assays(18) and assessment of immunologic responses(19, 20). These studies provide a cost-effective 
and fast way to circumvent the use of large-scale field efficacy studies for down selection of 
intervention candidates. However, an effective model to evaluate interventions to block malaria 
transmission is currently lacking. In this project we aim to develop a controlled human malaria 
infection transmission model (“CHMI-trans”) or “challenge model” to evaluate the capacity of 
vaccines, biologics (monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs), and drugs to block malaria parasite 
transmission by assessing infectiousness of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) gametocyte carriers for 


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Anopheles mosquitoes. This study is a sequel on CHMI-trans1 for the optimization of the 
transmission model. 
 
The first step of malaria parasite transmission from humans to Anopheles mosquitoes, is the 
generation of mature gametocytes in the human peripheral blood. Gametocytes are non-
pathogenic malaria life stages and typically comprising less than 5 percent of the total parasite 
population prior to treatment. Once treatment is initiated, gametocyte production ceases abruptly 
(e.g. artemisinins) or is tolerated or even stimulated as part of a terminal investment of malaria 
parasites under drug pressure (e.g. sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and piperaquine)(5, 21, 22). 
Importantly, malaria transmission is not prevented by currently used antimalarial drugs or the 
recently proposed malaria vaccine RTS,S. Malaria TBVs and drugs can interrupt parasite 
development in the mosquito and thereby play a central role in malaria elimination efforts and in 
efforts to contain the spread of drug resistant malaria(4, 23). However, for downstream selection 
and clinical development, there is currently an uncertain association between the methods used 
for preclinical and early clinical evaluation of candidate drugs/vaccines (e.g., the standard 
membrane feeding assay, or SMFA) and their ultimate field deployment, where the infectivity of 
naturally exposed hosts forms a key outcome measure. The standard membrane feeding assay 
(SMFA) can determine the percentage of the transmission-reducing activity (TRA) of human serum 
by feeding Anopheles mosquitoes on human blood with cultured gametocytes, mixed with 
experimental sera. Presently, we are heavily reliant on the SMFA to inform the early clinical 
efficacy stage-gate; however, this assay has not been accurately calibrated against the most widely 
used ex vivo assessment of gametocyte infectiousness, the direct membrane feeding assay 
(DMFA)(24). Therefore, its predictive value in assessing interventions that block human-to-
mosquito transmission remains uncertain(3).  
 
In order to use the CHMI model for the evaluation of transmission blocking interventions, current 
CHMI challenge methods that abort asexual blood-stage parasites prior to emergence of sexual-
stage gametocytes need to be modified to optimize gametocyte development and thus 
transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. Importantly, preliminary data show the presence of 
gametocytes in the CHMI volunteers after piperaquine treatment, with undetermined infectivity 
for mosquitoes(25). 
 
Establishment of the CHMI-trans model will facilitate effective bridging of SMFA to the direct 
membrane feeding assay (DMFA) and direct skin feeding assay (DFA) (such as via the evaluation of 
mAbs with defined transmission-blocking activity), to support the future positioning of SMFA as a 
more informative tool for predicting clinical outcomes. Most importantly, successful completion of 
the proposed work will fill a critical unmet need by making available a more biologically relevant 
assay to rapidly and cost effectively assess transmission-blocking interventions during early clinical 
development.  
 
The primary objective of this study is to assess gametocytemia and mosquito transmissibility in 
volunteers after parasite blood stage- or sporozoite challenge.  
We have previously shown in CHMI-trans1 that gametocytemia can safely be induced in 
participants through a malaria sporozoite challenge followed by subcurative regimens of 
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parasites/mL or a positive thick smear, with incidental evidence for mosquito infection (Reuling et 
al 2017). In another study with infection after blood-stage inoculum, higher gametocytemia was 
achieved and transmission to mosquito was observed in 73% (8/11) of the participants with 
mosquito infection rates of 2-17% (Collins et al 2017). The combined data provide clear evidence 
for the safe and reproducible induction of gametocytes at densities infectious to mosquitoes, and 
thereby providing first evidence for a successful CHMI transmission model. These studies show that 
gametocyte densities are strongly associated with the preceding densities of the asexual 
progenitors. Therefore, studies on the evaluation of transmission-blocking interventions (TBIs) will 
be optimized aiming to maximize gametocyte densities and the area under the curve (AUC) of 
gametocytemia by increasing duration and load of the asexual parasite burden (asexual AUC) 
without compromising the safety of the participants. This proposed study will evaluate different 
drug regimens based on the results of the CHMI-trans1 study, and compare the difference 
between a mosquito- and blood stage- challenge.  
1.3. Clinical Experience 
There is a large clinical experience with infecting humans by the bite of P. falciparum sporozoite-
infected mosquitoes and blood stage inoculum of P. falciparum. These challenge trials have become 
highly standardized(26, 27). The first human malaria challenge study was performed in 1917, and 
since 1986, when the modern protocol using laboratory adapted P. falciparum strains was first 
performed by the US army, >3,500 subjects have been challenged by the bites of mosquitoes fed on 
cultures of P. falciparum gametocytes to produce sporozoites(28). Infecting humans by the bite of P. 
falciparum sporozoite-infected mosquitoes and blood stage inoculum are established clinical trial 
methodologies and is considered a reproducible, predictable and safe method of inducing P. 
falciparum malaria. The results of such studies were summarized in 1997 (11), in 2007 (29) and in 
2012 (30) (27). 
The Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc) has the experience and infrastructure to 
conduct CHMI trials. Over 350 subjects have undergone CHMI in studies conducted by Radboudumc 
since 2001. Standard operating procedures according to international standards are in place for both 
clinical and laboratory activities, and the Radboudumc mosquito and parasite culture was positively 
audited in 2014 by an international independent auditor. Radboudumc has developed a sensitive 
method of parasite detection by real-time quantitative PCR (18S qPCR) in whole blood that allows us 
to detect malaria infection in an early stage and is able to detect small differences in parasite 
density(31). We further pioneered the assays for molecular detection of low densities of 
gametocytes(32) and sexing of gametocytes(33) as parameters for the transmission from humans to 
mosquitoes(34). 
 
1.4. Safety 
After CHMI most malaria-naive volunteers experience symptoms such as headache, chills or fatigue 
during 1-3 days. During the extensive experience with CHMI, severe or life-threatening malaria has 
never been reported.  
In the twenty-three CHMI studies conducted at Radboudumc (involving 376 healthy volunteers), 
three cardiac events have occurred after infection with the NF54 strain with the confirmed or 
differential diagnosis of myocarditis (35, 36). The occurrence of myocarditis in both natural 
uncomplicated malaria and CHMI has not been described elsewhere. However, the three cardiac 
events share no specific factor other than malaria infection.  


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With regards to the malaria infection, these myocarditis cases do share a number of characteristics: i) 
they took place 1-5 days after start of antimalarial treatment but different anti-malarial drugs were 
used in all cases ii) there was no parasitemia detectable at the time of the event, and iii) next to the 
P. falciparum infection, other and known possibly triggering factors (e.g. preceding vaccinations, 
concomitant infections, cannabis use) were present during or preceding the event. The three cases 
are discussed in detail in section 14. 
 
As a result of these cardiac SAEs our safety procedures for CHMI have been strongly intensified. In 
the current trial, we will adhere to those stringent procedures that are relevant, including: 
1. 
Individuals are excluded from participation if they have first or second degree relatives who 
had cardiovascular events (including ischemic events and myocarditis) under the age of 50 
2. 
A positive urine toxicology test for amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis is an exclusion 
criterion 
3. 
Increased control of hs troponin T as a marker of cardiac damage; treatment with Malarone® 
is initiated in consultation with the cardiologist. 
4. 
Daily measurements of platelets; volunteers will be treated with T1 when platelet levels are 
<120x 10^9/L and T3 when platelet levels are <50x 10^9/L. 
5. 
Agreement by the volunteer to refrain from intensive physical exercise (disproportionate to 
the subject’s usual daily activity or exercise routine) during the malaria challenge period.  
 
Transient, asymptomatic liver function derangements have been reported in volunteers in previous 
CHMI studies, and are likely to be related to the challenge infection (Reuling et al. manuscript in 
preparation). A retrospective analysis of 13 CHMI studies conducted in the Radboudumc showed that 
72/120 (60%) of the volunteers that were treated at thick smear parasitemia levels have mild (38%), 
moderate (10%) or severe (12%) increases of liver transaminases (ALT/AST). The liver function test 
(LFT) elevations remained asymptomatic in all the affected volunteers, and are typically not 
associated with bilirubin changes. Detailed analysis on the LFT elevations pattern showed that these 
elevations exceeded the upper limit of normal (ULN) around the day of treatment with antimalarials 
to 2 days after treatment. The peak LFTs elevations are found between 2-14 days after treatment 
with values normalized at study end (35–42 days after challenge infection). In some volunteers, the 
elevations were also found associated with lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that associated sub-
clinical haemolysis might have been present during challenge. 
 
Volunteers treated based on qPCR threshold of 100 Pf/mL showed a lower percentage, and severity 
of LFT abnormalities. 13/58 volunteers (22%) showed LFT derangements, with 11/58 (19%) mild, 
1/58 (2%) moderate, and 1/58 (2%) severe abnormalities. Importantly, all volunteers showed 
normalized values at study end. 
 
While severe/complicated malaria is clearly associated with liver damage with sequelae after natural 
infection (WHO Severe Malaria , Tropical Medicine and International health 2014), such severe 
complications do not seem to occur in naturally acquired uncomplicated clinical malaria (Abro et al. J 
Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2009 and Ghoda et al. Trop Gastroenterol. 2002). In this context it is 
important to note that parasite densities under these conditions are several logs higher than 
observed in the CHMI model.  
 


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A clear explanation for the transient elevated transaminases in our CHMI studies is not obvious. 
Although higher parasitemia associates with higher chances of LFT elevations on group level, there is 
no clear relationship on individual levels. Given the diversity of drug regimens used, it also seems 
unlikely to be directly related to anti-malarials. Similarly, the timing, differential, and limited use of 
paracetamol does not support a clear relationship. Rather a combination of the above mentioned 
factors, and individual susceptibility may have triggered the observed abnormalities. 
 
Following an independent review of the safety committee, and a hepatology expert, it was concluded 
that these transient asymptomatic and severe LFT elevations are most likely a direct consequence of 
the malaria infection rather than reflecting a direct drug-induced liver injury caused by the 
antimalarial drug or other liver toxin. Given the rapid and spontaneous resolution of the observations 
and the absence of significantly elevated bilirubin these events were judged to not cause permanent 
subclinical liver damage, and to not preclude further studies utilising Plasmodium falciparum 
challenge.  
 
As a result of the LFT elevations our safety procedures for CHMI have been intensified. In the current 
trial, we will adhere to those stringent procedures that are relevant, including: 
1. 
Exclusion of subjects with abnormal ALT/AST values on baseline  
2. 
Upon inclusion: Avoid additional triggers that may cause ALT/AST elevations  
a. Alcohol intake from baseline up to 1 week post-treatment  
b. Heavy physical exercise  
c. Recreational drug use  
d. >3 grams/ day of paracetamol/acetaminophen  
3. 
Standard monitoring of LFT at day* C-1; C+6; C+8; C+10; T; T+2; T+4; T+6; EOS  
4. 
Initiation of subcurative anti-malarial treatment at ALT/AST levels >2.5xULN (prior T1)  
5. 
Initiation of a curative anti-malarial treatment at ALT/AST levels >5x ULN (prior T1)  
 
*C = challenge; T = day of treatment 1,2, and 3; EOS = end of study 
 


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2. OBJECTIVES 
Primary objectives: 
1) To evaluate the safety of CHMI-trans protocols in healthy malaria-naïve volunteers challenged 
with Plasmodium falciparum by sporozoite challenge and blood stage challenge.  
2) To assess gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through mosquito membrane 
feeding assay (Direct Membrane Feeding Assay, DMFA).  
 
Secondary objectives: 
3) To determine the dynamics of gametocyte commitment, maturation and sex ratio by molecular 
markers of sexual stage development. 
4) To determine the time-point of peak density of gametocytemia in the CHMI-trans model. 
5) To assess gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through mosquito feeding assay 
(Direct Skin Feeding Assay, DFA).  
 
Exploratory Objectives (see section 9.1.3 for detailed endpoints): 
6) To determine gametocyte fitness by molecular markers, and ex vivo assessments of gamete 
formation and fertilization. 
7) To analyse immune responses in volunteers exposed to a Plasmodium falciparum challenge 
infection 
8) To explore associations between elevated transaminases and inflammatory biomarkers.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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3. STUDY DESIGN 
 
This study will be a single center, open label clinical trial. A total of 24 volunteers, in two cohorts 
(n=12), will be randomly assigned to two groups per cohort (n=6). Cohort A will be subjected to a 
standard controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) delivered by five Pf-infected mosquitoes (groups 
1 and 2). Cohort B will be subjected to a standard blood stage challenge with ~2,800 Pf-infected 
erythrocytes by intravenous injection (groups 3 and 4) (see Figure 1, section 3).  
Treatment is subsequently initiated to induce gametocytemia (treatment 1, T1) and to clear 
pathogenic asexual parasites whilst leaving gametocytes unaffected (treatment 2 and 3, T2 and T3). 
At the end of the study, treatment of all parasite stages is provided following national treatment 
guidelines (end treatment, ET). 
Once malaria infections are detected by 18S qPCR positive at a density of 5,000 par/ml (sporozoite 
challenge) or on day 8 (blood stage challenge), all volunteers will be treated with a single oral 
subcurative low-dose of piperaquine (LD-PIP, 480 mg, T1). Daily blood samples will allow detailed 
quantification of gametocytes and gametocyte sex ratio. Using blood samples taken twice daily, the 
initial clearance of parasitemia will be carefully monitored. After T1, volunteers will receive a second 
treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a recrudescence of asexual parasitemia (exceeding 1,500 par/ml by 
18S qPCR) occurs before day 21 post challenge infection. On day 21 or when a recrudescence occurs 
after T2, volunteers in group 1 and 3 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with 
piperaquine (960mg) and group 2 and 4 (LD-PIP/LD-PIP2/SP) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
(1000mg/50mg) (see section 9.3.2. for detailed treatment criteria). These treatment regimens cure 
asexual parasitemia while leaving immature and mature gametocytes unaffected(5). To ensure the 
radical clearance of all parasite stages, all volunteers will receive a final treatment (ET) according to 
national guidelines with atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) on day 36. In case a volunteer remains 
18S qPCR and Pfs25 qRT-PCR negative for 7 days after T1 or T2, final treatment with Malarone® will 
also be initiated and end of study will apply for the volunteer. On the day of administration of T3 and 
three days after initiation of T3, venous blood samples will be obtained for Direct Membrane Feeding 
Assay (DMFA). An additional blood sample will be taken for DMFA between day 7-21 after T3, the 
exact time-point being based on the density of gametocytemia as measured by Pfs25 qRT-PCR. In 
addition, on the DMFA days volunteers will be subjected to Direct Skin Feeding Assays (DFA) with one 
cup of 20-30 mosquitoes, allowing mosquitoes to feed on the volunteer’s forearms. These assays will 
provide evidence on the infectivity of volunteers at these time-points. 
If a planned volunteer (screened and eligible for participation) is subsequently unable to participate 
or becomes ineligible for enrollment at the inclusion visit, or before challenge on day 0, she/he will 
be replaced by another volunteer enrolled at the inclusion visit. For this purpose, two to four 
additional volunteers (screened and eligible for participation) will be identified and enrolled at the 
inclusion visit to act as back-ups. 


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Figure 1 – Study design. After the initial challenge, data from 175(30) volunteers indicate the first 
possible moment of parasitemia to be at day 6 and the first positive thick blood smear between day 
7-14.5 for the sporozoite challenge and day 8 for the blood stage challenge. Volunteers will be 
monitored twice daily from day 6 (sporozoite challenge) or day 4 (blood stage challenge) onwards 
until malaria parasites are detected at 5000 p/mL or on day 8 for blood stage challenge, upon which 
they are treated (T1). After T1, volunteers will receive a second treatment (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg) if a 
recrudescence of asexual parasitemia (exceeding 1,500 par/ml by 18S qPCR) occurs before day 21 
post challenge infection. On day 21 or once parasites density reach 1500 p/mL after T2, volunteers 
will receive a curative regimen (T3). After T3, volunteers will visit the study site 3 times a week until 
final treatment according to national guidelines with Malarone® on day 36, to assure radical 
clearance of all parasite stages. 
 
 
 
 
 


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4. STUDY POPULATION 
4.1. Population (base)  
The study population will be comprised of adult male and female healthy, malaria naïve subjects. A 
total of 24 subjects will be enrolled to participate in the study and be randomized to two groups per 
cohort (n=6 per group).. The investigator will ensure that all subjects being considered for the study 
meet the following eligibility criteria. Subject eligibility is to be established and confirmed by 
checking through all inclusion/exclusion criteria at both screening and baseline. A relevant record 
(e.g. checklist) of the eligibility criteria will be stored with the source documentation at the study site. 
 
4.2. Inclusion criteria 
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria:  
1. 
Subject is aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 35 years and in good health.  
2. 
Subject has adequate understanding of the procedures of the study and is able and willing (in 
the investigator’s opinion) to comply with all study requirements. 
3. 
Subject is willing to complete an informed consent questionnaire and is able to answer all 
questions correctly.  
4. 
Subject is able to communicate well with the investigator and is available to attend all study 
visits, lives in proximity to the trial centre (<10 km) or (if >10km) is willing to stay in a hotel close 
to the trial centre during part of the study (from day 4 (blood stage challenge) 5 (sporozoite 
challenge) post-infection until T1+4 provided that the subject has had 2 consecutive negative 
18S qPCR tests (at least 24 hours apart) following T1 treatment; or until day T3+3).  
5. 
The subject will remain within the Netherlands during the challenge period, will not travel to a 
malaria-endemic area during the study period, and is reachable (24/7) by mobile telephone 
throughout the entire study period.  
6. 
Subject agrees to their general practitioner being informed and contacted about their 
participation in the study and agrees to sign a form to request the release by their General 
Practitioner (GP), and medical specialist when necessary, to the investigator(s), of any relevant 
medical information concerning possible contra-indications for participation in the study.  
7. 
The subject agrees to refrain from blood donation to Sanquin or for other purposes throughout 
the study period and for a defined period thereafter according to current Sanquin guidelines.  
8. 
For female subjects: subject agrees to use continuous adequate contraception** and not to 
breastfeed for the duration of study.  
9. 
Subject agrees to refrain from intensive physical exercise (disproportionate to the subject’s 
usual daily activity or exercise routine) during the malaria challenge period until day 38 after 
infection. 
10. Subject agrees to avoid additional triggers that may cause elevations in liver enzymes including 
alcohol from baseline up to 1 week post treatment (T3).  
11. Subject has signed written informed consent to participate in the trial. 
(*Acceptable forms of contraception include: established use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal 
contraceptives; intrauterine device or intrauterine system; barrier methods (condoms or diaphragm 
with additional spermicide); male partner’s sterilisation (with appropriate post-vasectomy 
documentation of absence of sperm in the ejaculate); true abstinence when this is in line with the 
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symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of 
contraception.) 
 
4.3. Exclusion criteria 
A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this 
study:  
1. Any history, or evidence at screening, of clinically significant symptoms, physical signs or 
abnormal laboratory values suggestive of systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular, 
pulmonary, renal, hepatic, neurological, dermatological, endocrine, malignant, haematological, 
infectious, immunodeficient, psychiatric and other disorders, which could compromise the health 
of the volunteer during the study or interfere with the interpretation of the study results. These 
include, but are not limited to, any of the following.  
1.1. 
Body weight <50 kg or Body Mass Index (BMI) <18 or >30 kg/m2 at screening.  
1.2. 
A heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, as determined by: an estimated ten year risk 
of fatal cardiovascular disease of ≥5% at screening, as determined by the Systematic 
Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE); history, or evidence at screening, of clinically significant 
arrhythmia’s, prolonged QT-interval or other clinically relevant ECG abnormalities; or a 
positive family history of cardiac events in 1st or 2nd degree relatives <50 years old.  
1.3. 
A medical history of functional asplenia, sickle cell trait/disease, thalassaemia 
trait/disease or G6PD-deficiency.  
1.4. 
History of epilepsy in the period of five years prior to study onset, even if no longer on 
medication.  
1.5. 
Screening tests positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), active Hepatitis B Virus 
(HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)  
1.6. 
Chronic use of i) immunosuppressive drugs, ii) antibiotics, iii) or other immune modifying 
drugs within three months prior to study onset (inhaled and topical corticosteroids and 
oral anti-histamines exempted) or expected use of such during the study period.  
1.7. 
Any recent or current systemic therapy with an antibiotic or drug with potential anti-
malarial activity (chloroquine, doxycycline, tetracycline, piperaquine, benzodiazepine, 
flunarizine, 
fluoxetine, 
tetracycline, 
azithromycin, 
clindamycin, 
erythromycin, 
hydroxychloroquine, etc.) (allowable timeframe for use at the Investigator’s discretion). 
1.8. 
History of malignancy of any organ system (other than localized basal cell carcinoma of 
the skin), treated or untreated, within the past 5 years.  
1.9. 
Any history of treatment for severe psychiatric disease by a psychiatrist in the past year.  
1.10. History of drug or alcohol abuse interfering with normal social function in the period of 
one year prior to study onset, positive urine toxicology test for cocaine or amphetamines 
at screening or at inclusion, or positive urine toxicology test for cannabis at inclusion.  
 
2. For female subjects: positive urine pregnancy test at screening and/or at the baseline visit.  
3. Abnormal ALT/AST values on baseline  
4. Any history of malaria, positive serology for P. falciparum, or previous participation in any 
malaria (vaccine) study.  
5. Known hypersensitivity to or contra-indications (including co-medication) for use of sulfadoxine-
pyrimethamine, piperaquine, chloroquine, Malarone®, artemether-lumefantrine, primaquine or 
history of severe (allergic) reactions to mosquito bites.  


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6. Participation in any other clinical study in the 30 days prior to the start of the study or during the 
study period.  
7. Being an employee or student of the department of Medical Microbiology of the Radboudumc or 
the department of Internal Medicine.  
8. Any other condition or situation that would, in the opinion of the investigator, place the subject 
at an unacceptable risk of injury or render the subject unable to meet the requirements of the 
protocol.  
9. For cohort B (blood stage challenge): Received a blood transfusion in the past. 
10. For cohort B (blood stage challenge): Women of childbearing potential with a screening test 
positive for erythrocyte anti-Rh(c) and/or anti-Rh(e) antibodies. 
 
 
 
 
 


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5. SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION 
 
In this trial, we will determine the suitability of our treatment strategies to induce gametocytemia, 
defined as gametocyte prevalence by Pfs25 qRT-PCR on any moment during follow-up and to achieve 
infectiousness to mosquitoes. Based on preliminary data, we expect >95% individuals will develop 
gametocytes after commencing treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine(37) or piperaquine(25). 
In CHMI-trans1, 100% (16/16) individuals developed gametocytes. The CHMI-trans approach is 
considered unsuitable if <50% of individuals develop mature gametocytes; the lower limit of the 
confidence interval around the proportion of gametocyte positive individuals should thus be above 
50%. If we enroll 12 individuals of whom 11 become gametocyte positive, the lower limit of the 99% 
confidence interval around this proportion is 52%. We anticipate that ~73% of the individuals who 
are exposed to Pf by blood stage inoculation will infect at least one mosquito (Collins, unpublished 
data). Within each of the inoculation means (mosquito inoculation versus bloodstage, 12 participants 
each) we may thus expect 8 or 9 infectious individuals and consequently a lower limit of the 95% 
confidence interval around the proportion of infectious individuals ≥34%. 
 
Comparisons between groups are underpowered by conventional frequentist approaches and a 
Bayesian model will be used to select the challenge and treatment strategy with evidence for highest 
gametocyte prevalence, density, infectiousness prevalence and mosquito infection rates.  


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TREATMENT OF SUBJECTS 
 
5.1. Investigational product/treatments (for T1,T2, and T3) 
All volunteers will receive a subcurative treatment (T1, LD-PIP, 480mg) with piperaquine when the 
first treatment criterion occurs (see section 9 Methods). Volunteers with a recrudescence before day 
21 post challenge infection will receive a second treatment with piperaquine (T2, LD-PIP2, 480mg). 
On day 21 or when a recrudescence occurs after T2, volunteers in group 1 and 3 (LD-PIP/LD-
PIP2/PIP) will be curatively treated with piperaquine (960mg) and group 2 and 4 (LD-PIP/LD-
PIP2/SP) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg). Volunteers treated with piperaquine will 
receive 160mg tablet strength as piperaquine phosphate (Penn Pharmaceutical Services Limited UK) 
for the subcurative or curative regimen. Volunteers treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine will 
receive two tablets of 500mg/25mg tablet strength (Amstelfarma NL) for the curative regimen. 
Refer to section 6 for further details regarding piperaquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. See 
section 9.3.2. for detailed treatment criteria. 
 
5.2. Investigational product Use of co-intervention 
All volunteers will receive a final treatment (ET, end treatment) with Malarone® after CHMI as 
described in section 9. The following list of concomitant medications that are contraindications to 
Malarone® is based on the Malarone® product information sheet.  
Concomitant medications:  
 
Use of anticoagulants (warfarin and other coumarin based anticoagulants)  
 
Use of Rifampicin, Rifabutin, Tetracycline or Metoclopramide  
 
Use of Indinavir  
 
5.3. Escape medication (if applicable) 
Volunteers may be advised to take tripelennamine crème for the local treatment of mosquito bites. 
Volunteers are advised to take paracetamol for complaints secondary to the CHMI (fever, muscle 
aches, headache, etc.). Tripelennamine crème, paracetamol or any other symptomatic treatment will 
be supplied to the volunteers. The maximum dose of paracetamol 
in this study is 3 grams a day.  
 
Pre-emptive rescue treatment with Malarone® can commence whenever deemed necessary 
by the investigator.  
 
 
 


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6. INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (TREATMENT PRODUCT) 
 
6.1. Name and description of investigational products 
 
Piperaquine tablets (160mg tablet strength as piperaquine phosphate, Penn Pharmaceutical 
Services Limited UK), administered orally. 
o subcurative regimen (480 mg, 3 tablets of160mg)  
o curative regimen (960 mg, 6 tablets of 160mg).  
 
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets (Amstelfarma, NL), administered orally. 
o curative regimen (1000mg/50mg as 2 tablets).  
 
6.2. Summary of findings from non-clinical studies 
Please see Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of Fansidar® (the original proprietary name of 
the generic drug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine used in this study) and the Investigator’s Brochure for 
piperaquine. 
 
6.3. Summary of findings from clinical studies 
Please see Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Fansidar® (the original proprietary name of 
the generic drug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine used in this study) and the Investigator’s Brochure for 
piperaquine for detailed information. A short summary of the available data is given below. 
 
6.3.1. 
Clinical data for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
A fixed-dose combination of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine, the usual successor to failing 
chloroquine, has been widely implemented in the last decade and is one of the most widely used 
antimalarial treatments in the world. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) has the great advantage that 
the entire treatment can be given as a single dose(37). 
Although artemisinin-combination therapy has now replaced the use of SP throughout malaria-
endemic settings, SP is still widely used as a first-line intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in 
pregnancy (IPTp) (38-40) and for malaria seasonal chemoprophylaxis alone or in combination with 
amodiaquine(41). 
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine can effectively block two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of folinic 
acid within the parasites: sulfadoxine inhibits the dihydropteroate synthetase and pyrimethamine 
blocks the dihydrofolate reductase. Both drugs are active predominantly against the later 
development stages of asexual parasites(42). The curative regimen consists of 2-3 tablets of 500mg 
sulfadoxine and 25mg pyrimethamine per tablet(42).  
Some studies show that treatment with SP is correlated with an increase in gametocyte carriage(43, 
44). 
 
6.3.2. 
Clinical data for Piperaquine 
Piperaquine is a bisquinoline 4-aminoquinoline anti-malarial structurally related to chloroquine. It 
was synthesized independently in France and China in the 1960s(45, 46), and widely used for malaria 
control activities in China in the 1970’s and 1980’s (13). In the 1990s, piperaquine was reconsidered 
as a partner drug in artemisinin-based combination therapy, and the renewed development led to a 
novel combination formulation of dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine, each tablet containing 40mg 
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resistance of piperaquine has not been well studied but is likely to be similar to those of drugs of the 
same class(47). The antimalarial activity of piperaquine when administered as a single agent in a 
malaria challenge model has been established at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 
Australia(25), in a dose finding study. Administered as a single dose (960, 640 and 480 mg) the drug 
rapidly cleared asexual parasitemia. Recrudescences have occurred in 3 out of the 6 subjects treated 
with 480mg piperaquine, therefore a second dose of 480mg of piperaquine will be given if this 
occurs, and thus a curative dose of piperaquine (960 mg) in this study will be given when a second 
recrudescence occurs or on day 21.(25).  
 
6.3.3. 
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
Both sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral 
administration. Both drugs are highly bound to plasma protein (about 90%). Sulfadoxine has an 
elimination half-life of 4.9-13.2 days and pyrimethamine, 2.1-6.5 days(37). Peak plasma levels of 
sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine ranging from 51-76 mg/L are reached in approximately 4 hours 
(range 1.5-8 hours) and 0.13-0.4 mg/L within 2.1-77 hours, respectively, after a single tablet of 
500mg/25mg(42). Pyrimethamine has a larger volume of distribution than sulfadoxine and is 
concentrated in kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen. Sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine are mainly 
metabolized by the liver. Sulfadoxine undergoes various degrees of acetylation, hydroxylation and 
glucuronidation. Both drugs are excreted mainly through the kidneys(42). 
 
6.3.4. 
Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism of Piperaquine 
The pharmacokinetic properties of piperaquine are similar to those of chloroquine. It has a very large 
volume of distribution, ranging from 103 to 716 l/kg, values that are significantly larger even than 
comparable drugs such as chloroquine(48). It has a very long terminal elimination half-life, 531 h (22 
days) and 468 h (20 days) in adults and children, respectively(49). The prolonged half-life results in a 
beneficial post-treatment prophylactic period, estimated to be about 20 days, and protecting against 
both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Although early recurrent infections are reduced, infections treated 
with DHA-PQP are more likely to produce gametocytes than artemether-lumefantrine (AL), an 
observation hypothesized to reflect the lower dosing of artemisinin derivative in DHA-PQP (total 
~7.5mg/kg of DHA compared to ~11.5mg/kg of artemether in AL). Furthermore, a smaller volume of 
distribution, and shorter half life of piperaquine is seen in children, resulting in a higher risk of 
recrudescence and earlier re-infection. Thus, an increase of the weight-adjusted dosage in young 
children may be required(50).  
 
Piperaquine is highly lipophilic, and its oral bioavailability is approximately doubled by administration 
with a high-fat meal(51, 52). However, data regarding the influence of food on the bioavailability of 
piperaquine in human subjects are conflicting(48, 53, 54). In a study carried out in Papua New 
Guinea, a surprisingly low efficacy of DHA-PQP was reported (88% at day 42), significantly lower than 
that for artemether–lumefantrine (AL). However, the difference had wide confidence intervals and 
was apparent at day 28 but not at day 42. This reduced efficacy is in contrast to other studies carried 
out in Africa(55-57) and Asia(58, 59) where DHA-PQP had similar or higher efficacy to other ACTs. 
Because of apparent significant effects of food intake, piperaquine will be administered in a fasting 
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6.3.5. 
Safety and tolerability of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is well tolerated, with the main adverse effects reported to be 
gastroinstestinal disturbances, headache, dizziness and skin reactions such as photosensitivity, rash, 
pruritus, urticaria and slight hair loss, which are mainly associated with sulfanomides(39, 60, 61). In 
very rare cases, particularly in hypersensitive patients, severe, possibly life-threatening skin reactions 
such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Lyell's syndrome may occur. The drug 
should be withdrawn immediately if skin reactions are observed. Furthermore, leukopenia, 
thrombocytopenia, megaloblastic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia, haematuria, oliguria and hepatitis 
have also been reported. Patients should be advised that sore throat, fever, cough, dyspnoea or 
purpura may be the first signs of serious side effects. The intake must be stopped immediately at the 
first signs of skin eruptions, a significant decrease of blood cells, or a bacterial or fungal 
superinfection(42). 
 
6.3.6. 
Safety and tolerability of Piperaquine 
Piperaquine is well tolerated both in adults and in children(49), with the main adverse events 
reported to be gastrointestinal disturbance such as diarrhoea(58), although this varies considerably 
according to geographical region. Electrocardiographic effects of piperaquine have been specifically 
evaluated in two studies(59, 62-64). Both demonstrated a prolongation of the corrected QT interval 
during treatment (between 11 and 14ms). Very few individual patients experienced a prolongation 
that could be regarded as clinically significant (>60ms); notably, QTc prolongation induced by 
piperaquine has not been associated with clinically relevant cardiovascular events suggesting a pro-
arrythmogenic effect. Therefore, although statistically significant, the QTc prolongation observed 
following piperaquine therapy is unlikely to be clinically relevant. European regulatory authorities 
have however recommended that DHA-PQP should not be administered with food (to reduce peak 
concentrations), and caution that prior and post electrocardiographic monitoring should be 
undertaken, as well as avoidance of concomitant consumption or recent exposure to drugs at risk of 
QTc prolongation(63, 64). 
 
The principal risks related to piperaquine include: 
 
Mild elevations in hepatic enzymes; transaminase elevations in malaria patients have typically 
been <2xULN, with no increases >5xULN, and with no severe liver function derangements (Hy’s 
law cases) observed. The pattern of transaminase increases is not unusual with acute malaria, 
although there was a suggestion of a potentially dose-related effect. 
 
QTc prolongation (both QTcB and QTcF); although mostly in the range >30 msec but <60 msec, 
prolongations >60 msec have been observed with a single instance of QTcF that exceeded 500 
msec. This risk is mitigated by administering the drug while the subject is fasting. 
 
6.4. Drug and dose selection rationale 
The rationale for the use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and piperaquine as treatment is based on 
the fact that they are the only drugs known to increase gametocytes in patients (23, 50, 65). Both 
drugs do not kill circulating gametocytes in contrast to other antimalarial drugs (e.g. artemisinins), 
which would not allow addressing the current study objectives.  
The association between gametocyte production and transmissibility after sulfadoxine-
pyrimethamine (SP) is complex. High gametocyte concentrations have been observed after 
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Possibly, because the SP treatment initiates an efflux of less mature gametocytes that require 3-7 
additional days of maturation(66), and the presence of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the bloodmeal 
of the mosquitoes(65). Nevertheless, the considerable increase in the prevalence and density of 
gametocytes results in a net increase of infectivity to mosquitoes although this increase may be 
lower than expected based on the gametocyte concentration (the chance of mosquito infection per 
gametocyte is smaller).  
The selection of the optimal treatment for induction of infectious gametocyte requires a thorough 
comparison, and possibly a combination of agents wherein the production and fitness of 
gametocytes are optimized. The reason to use two study arms per cohort in this study is to directly 
compare the possible combinations of piperaquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, and increase the 
likelihood of obtaining the study-objectives. 
 
The rationale to use suboptimal treatment (T1 and T2) regimens is based on partial clearance of 
asexual parasites followed by recrudescence. This will presumably cause an increase in asexual 
commitment to gametocytes through terminal investment of malaria parasites under drug pressure 
(5, 21) (22).  
In previous CHMI’s(25), piperaquine was administered at single de-escalating dosages. The lowest 
dose used (480 mg) resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia in 3 out of 6 subjects (cohort 3B) 
within 30 to 36 hours after piperaquine treatment. Recrudescent parasitemia occurred in 3/6 
volunteers which was completely cleared after a second dose of piperaquine (960 mg). Recrudescent 
infection was identified by routine 18S qPCR monitoring. In CHMI-trans1, 6/8 volunteers receiving 
low dose piperaquine (480mg) had a rapid recrudescent infection within 48 hours. Therefore, a 
second regimen of low dose piperaquine (T2, 480mg) will be given to volunteers in this study if a 
recrudescent infection occurs after T1 and prior day 21. The addition of the early initiation of a 
second subcurative treatment with piperaquine will increase the asexual parasite biomass without 
increasing the peak asexual densities to ensure the safety of the participants. The curative dosing 
regimen (T3) and in accordance with group assignment, the higher dose (960 mg) will be given to 
clear recrudescent parasitemia, without affecting (mature) gametocytes.  
The rationale to use SP is based on field studies, showing an increase of transmissibility to 
mosquitoes after a curative treatment regimen. Furthermore, CHMI-trans1 has shown that 
gametocytes are not killed when a curative dose of SP is used (1000mg/50mg). In addition, the 
gametocyte densities and the area under the curve of gametocytemia were highest in the LD-PIP/SP 
arm, therefore the additional arm with SP as curative regimen is added to this study.  
 
6.5. Potential Risks  
See Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Fansidar®, the Investigator’s Brochure for 
piperaquine, and section 6.3 Summary of findings from clinical studies above.  
Based on preliminary data(25) and clinical data accumulated during previous malaria challenge 
studies, piperaquine was well tolerated in the treated participants. They showed a robust safety 
profile in the treated participants in dose of up to 960 mg when used for the treatment of 
uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria infection.  
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine has been widely implemented 
in the last decade and has been one of the most widely used antimalarial treatments in the world 
with millions of doses administered. Clinical data show a strong safety profile of SP and treatment is 
generally very well tolerated(39, 42, 60, 61). 


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The risk of treating with subcurative regimens for both drugs is limited to a recrudescent infection. 
This risk is mitigated by the extensive follow-up (twice a day) until 4 days after T1, and once a day 
after that. In case recrudescence occurs, volunteers will be treated with a second subcurative 
regimen (T2) if a recrudescent infection occurs prior day 21. On day 21 or recrudescence after T2, 
volunteers will be treated with a curative regimen of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or piperaquine, in 
accordance with group assignment. Furthermore, in the unlikely case a second recrudescence occurs 
after T3, final treatment with Malarone® will be initiated.  
 
6.6. Potential Benefits  
There are no expected benefits of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine or piperaquine for participants 
participating in this study. 
 
6.7. Risk Management  
Potential risks have been identified through review of previous clinical studies conducted to date as 
well as review of the literature and post-marketing data for both sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and 
piperaquine. Monitoring of cardiovascular effects after piperaquine treatment will be performed 
using a 12-lead ECG with a focus on expected maximal piperaquine concentrations after oral dosing 
(within 4h-12h after treatment). Healthy volunteers with a history of cardiovascular disease or 
clinically significant ECG abnormalities will be excluded from participation in the study, with 
particular attention paid to cardiac conduction. The risk to participants in this trial will be minimized 
in two ways: 
1. Adherence to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. 
2. Close clinical and laboratory monitoring to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the healthy 
participants. 
3. Volunteers with increases in QT/QTc to >480 ms or >30 ms over baseline, after piperaquine 
treatment (T1 or T2) will not receive further dosing of piperaquine during the trial. These 
volunteers will instead receive the alternative drug, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as T3. 
 
The overall risk to participants participating in the study is considered to be minimal and acceptable, 
and the potential of the results of this study to contribute towards future accelerated product 
development of malaria transmission blocking interventions is considered to outweigh these 
potential risks. 
Scheduled regular clinical chemistry and haematology blood tests will also be performed, (details of 
time points can be seen in section 9.3.17). 
 
6.8. Preparation and labeling of Investigational Medicinal Product 
Piperaquine: Piperaquine tablets (160mg tablet strength as piperaquine phosphate) will be supplied 
to Radboudumc as HDPE bottles supplies which are manufactured and tested for quality control 
purposes in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices by Penn Pharmaceutical Services Limited 
in the United Kingdom. The piperaquine tablets (160mg tablet strength as piperaquine phosphate) 
are packaged in HDPE bottles. The tablet supplies will be labelled in accordance with EMA GMP 
requirements and the label will include information regarding identity, batch number, expiry date 
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Piperaquine tablet supplies will be held at the nominated storage condition of 15°C-25°C and 
protected from moisture in appropriate locked storage conditions at Radboudumc until required. 
 
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, (and Malarone®) will be acquired by Radboudumc, labelled according 
to identity, brand or source, and batch number. The supplies will be held in appropriate locked 
storage conditions at Radboudumc until required. The contents of the label for drug to be 
administered to the participants will be in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements. 
 
 
6.9. Drug accountability 
The principal investigator must ensure that sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine and piperaquine are stored 
in an appropriate storage room. Accurate records must be maintained regarding the receipt of the 
treatments, which include: drug name, date received, lot number, amount received.  
Accurate records must also be maintained regarding administration of drugs to volunteers. These 
records will be kept by the investigators. This includes: 
 
Volunteer identification number  
 
Date and dose of drugs dispensed 
 
Signature of the person administrating the drugs. 


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7. NON-INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (SPOROZOITE CHALLENGE PRODUCT) 
7.1. Name and description of non-investigational product(s)  
P. falciparum 3D7-infected Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes for the purpose controlled human 
malaria infection.  
 
7.2. Summary of findings from non-clinical studies  
The P. falciparum 3D7 parasite is a clone of the NF54 strain which was isolated from a patient living 
in the Schiphol-area in the Netherlands. In clinical studies and in vitro studies, this parasite has been 
shown to be completely susceptible to multiple antimalarials, including sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, 
piperaquine, chloroquine, mefloquine, atovaquone/proguanil and arthemeter/ lumefantrine (see 
D2c, ‘Product information Plasmodium falciparum infected Anopheles mosquitoes’).  
 
7.3. Summary of findings from clinical studies  
CHMIs are well accepted as a powerful tool for the evaluation of parasite development in humans. 
The Radboudumc has the experience and infrastructure to conduct CHMIs. Our center uses a 
sensitive method for parasite detection by real-time qPCR that allows detection of malaria infection 
in an early stage, resulting in early treatment.  
There is a large clinical experience with infecting humans by the bite of P. falciparum-infected 
mosquitoes or by blood stage inoculum. Since 1986 more than 3,500 volunteers at global scale have 
had a CHMI by the bites of mosquitoes fed on cultures of P. falciparum gametocytes to produce P. 
falciparum sporozoites or by inoculation of infected-erythrocytes (Chulay et al., 1986, (67, 68)). This 
has proven to be a reproducible, predictable and safe method of inducing P. falciparum malaria. The 
results of such studies were summarized in 1997 (Church et al., 1997), in 2007 (Epstein et al., 2007) 
and in 2012 (Roestenberg, de Vlas, Nieman, Sauerwein, & Hermsen, 2012) and ((69)). Most CHMI 
studies worldwide are conducted with the 3D7 clone.  
The P. falciparum isolate NF54 and the 3D7 clone have been tested for the purpose of challenge 
infection in 376 volunteers in 23 CHMI studies in the Radboudumc. In these studies >98 % of malaria-
naive volunteers developed patent parasitemia after bites from 5 NF54 infected mosquitoes or blood 
stage inoculum. The time range to blood stage parasitemia detectable by thick smear (prepatent 
period) was between 7.0 and 14 days (after sporozoite challenge). Mild-moderate solicited adverse 
events were generally experienced by all study subjects, most commonly headache (95%), general 
malaise/fatigue (65%) and fever (90%)(30). Gastro-intestinal complaints, including nausea, diarrhoea 
and abdominal pain were also reported, mainly following intake of atovaquone-proguanil. Symptoms 
that were severe enough to prohibit daily activities, occurred in 49% of participants. 
 
7.4. Summary of known and potential risks and benefits  
There is no benefit expected for subjects participating in this study. The risk to subjects after 
challenge infection with 3D7-infected mosquitoes will be minimized by adherence to the 
inclusion/exclusion criteria and close clinical monitoring, which ensures that subjects with malaria 
will be treated at earliest stages of parasitemia. The risks of a CHMI for malaria-naïve subjects include 
i) discomfort induced by mosquito bites, ii) discomfort associated with periodic blood drawing and iii) 
risk of acquiring mild clinical P. falciparum malaria.  
Mosquito bites are known to cause mild discomfort associated with mosquito feeding. A small 
degree of inflammation and pruritus typically accompanies the bite of the insect. Anaphylaxis after 
mosquito bites is extremely rare and has never been reported after CHMI. While significant allergic 


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reactions are extremely rare, in the event of an allergic reaction, epinephrine, anti-histamines, on-call 
physician and resuscitation equipment are available on site. The Radboudumc, an established site for 
CHMIs, is fully equipped to manage anaphylaxis and any other medical emergency.  
Frequent blood draws will be necessary to closely monitor the subjects and to perform qPCR and 
thick smears for detection of P. falciparum parasitemia. Gametocyte densities are strongly associated 
with the preceding densities of the asexual progenitors. Therefore, in this study the asexual parasite 
burden will be monitored and allowed to reach levels where appropriate gametocyte production is 
expected without compromising the safety of the subjects. Subjects in this study will be treated at a 
parasite density threshold of 5000 parasites/mL or positive thick smear (sporozoite challenge), or on 
day 8 (blood stage challenge) which has shown to be safe. Recent CHMI studies have used lower 
treatment thresholds by qPCR detection (100 parasites/mL), however, the parasite burden in those 
subjects appeared to be too low for sufficient gametocyte production. Consequently, the higher 
parasite thresholds have been defined for treatment to meet these objectives, but still within the 
range of acceptability for safety according to experience at QIMR Berghofer studies. Universal 
precautions will be taken for protection of the volunteer and study personnel. The total amount of 
blood collected will be maximally 500 ml over the trial period (of 51 days, plus up to 120 days for the 
screening period) in agreement with guidelines of the Sanquin blood bank.  
Intensive follow-up with qPCR performed on samples taken twice daily (and thick smears once daily 
in the evening), will ensure early treatment - preventing high levels or prolonged duration of 
parasitemia that would put the subject at undue risk. Severe/complicated malaria has never been 
described in a CHMI. Mild malaria symptoms include headache, myalgia, fever, chills, sweats, nausea, 
vomiting, and diarrhoea. Researchers at the Radboudumc have extensive experience with the care of 
clinical malaria.  
It is expected that volunteers subjected to a treatment threshold of 5000 parasites/mL or positive 
thick smear, in contrast to a lower threshold such as 100 parasites/mL, will experience more 
symptoms and have a higher occurrence of transient, asymptomatic liver function derangements 
related to the mild malaria after CHMI (see also section 1.4 Safety). No relation has been found 
between parasite densities and the three cardiac events reported in CHMI (section 1.4 Safety). 
Nevertheless, rapid diagnosis by qPCR and/or thick smears and subsequent treatment at these 
parasite densities quickly attenuates the illness so that the infection does not place the subject at 
undue risk. 
The exposure to infected P. falciparum 3D7-infected mosquito bites will occur at Radboudumc 
insectary which has a double-door barrier system along with a double blower (negative pressure 
wind blockade). 
 
7.5. Description and justification of route of administration and dosage  
Study subjects will be exposed to malaria for the purpose of challenge infection through (cutaneous) 
bites of P. falciparum 3D7-infected female Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. This is the natural route 
of infection and the one with which most experience has been accumulated in CHMI trials. 
Volunteers will be exposed to the bites of 5 3D7-infected mosquitoes, which is the gold-standard 
dosage for CHMI studies worldwide. 
 
7.6. Dosages, dosage modifications and method of administration  
See also paragraph 7.5. Subjects receiving a malaria challenge infection with the 3D7 clone of P. 
falciparum will receive 5 infectious bites from A. stephensi mosquitoes infected with 3D7 


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sporozoites. Previous studies have demonstrated that with this dosage, near 100% of malaria-naïve 
volunteers develop a blood stage malaria infection (Verhage et al., 2005).  
 
7.7. Preparation and labeling of Non Investigational Medicinal Product  
The culture of parasites and infection of mosquitoes has been a routine procedure for over 20 years 
in the Malaria Unit of the Central Animal Facility of the Radboudumc, Nijmegen. The 3D7 parasite is a 
clone of the NF54 P. falciparum isolate, originated from the Schiphol area. The isolate was originally 
derived from patient material and is cultured in vitro in RPMI-1640 medium with 10% serum and 5% 
haematocrit red blood cells. Both the serum and the red blood cells are obtained from the Nijmegen 
department of the Sanquin Bloedbank region Zuid-Oost. These blood products are negative for 
malaria and Hepatitis B surface Anitgen (HBsAg), and seronegative for HIV, HCV, HumanT-
lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) 1+2 and syphilis. The cultures are checked for bacterial, fungal and 
Mycoplasma contamination.  
 After 14 days of in vitro culture, the sexual stage parasites will be harvested for feeding to 1-5 days 
old laboratory cultured A. stephensi mosquitoes via a ‘membrane feeder’. The percentage P. 
falciparum-infected mosquitoes will be assessed 6-9 days after feeding and one day prior to the 
CHMI. Mosquitoes will be kept in the same midi‐cage from Membrane Feed for Sporozoite 
production until the day before CHMI. On the day before CHMI, a sample of 10 mosquitoes from 
each batch is checked for the presence of sporozoites. The best batch will be selected for CHMI 
requiring a batch of at least 40% infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are then transferred from midi‐ 
cages to small CHMI‐cages. Each step in this process is performed by an experienced technician, and 
checked and recorded on standardized forms by another technician according to standard operating 
procedures.  
 
7.8. Drug accountability  
The date, time of collection and person collecting the mosquitoes is filled in on a standard table. This 
section will be signed by the responsible employee. 
 
 
 
 


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8. NON-INVESTIGATIONAL PRODUCT (BLOOD STAGE CHALLENGE PRODUCT) 
8.1. Name and description of non-investigational product(s)  
P. falciparum 3D7-infected human erythrocytes administered intravenously for the purpose 
controlled human malaria infection.  
 
8.2. Summary of findings from non-clinical studies  
Please refer to D2g Investigator’s Brochure. The inoculum containing Plasmodium falciparum strain 
3D7 has been derived from blood donated from a donor with clinical manifestation of malaria. The 
preparation of this challenge inoculum has been described in detail ((67, 68)). Briefly, the cells were 
purified from a donor previously infected with P. falciparum, strain 3D7 via mosquito bites. Before 
the infection, the donor was extensively screened and no serologic evidences were found for the 
screened infectious agents with exception of seropositivity for Epstein-Barr virus and 
cytomegalovirus. However, the stored blood sample is PCR negative for both viruses, indicating 
absence of viral DNA. Once the donor was microscopically positive for presence of malaria parasites, 
one unit of blood (500 ml) was collected from the donor and processed to remove leucocytes. The 
packed blood cells were then mixed with glycerolyte 57 solution (Baxter, Deerfield, IL) and 
cryopreserved in ~1 mL aliquots as previously described ((67, 68)) and stored at QIMR Berghofer 
under controlled conditions. In clinical studies and in vitro studies, this parasite has been shown 
completely susceptible to multiple antimalarials, including sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, piperaquine, 
chloroquine, mefloquine, atovaquone/proguanil and arthemeter/ lumefantrine (see D2g, Investigor’s 
Brochure Plasmodium falciparum 3D7-infected blood stage inoculum).  
 
8.3. Summary of findings from clinical studies  
Please refer to D2g Investigator’s Brochure and section 7.4 above. The Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 
parasite bank for blood stage challenge has been used to inoculate 296 malaria naïve study 
participants in previous challenge studies. No SAEs related to the challenge inoculum have been 
reported in any of these studies ((69) and McCarthy et al., unpublished). 
The time range to blood stage parasitemia detectable by PCR (prepatent period) is reliably between 3 
and 4 days. Mild-moderate solicited adverse events are generally experienced by all study subjects, 
most commonly headache, general malaise/fatigue and fever (30). Gastro-intestinal complaints, 
including nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain have also been reported, mainly following intake of 
piperaquine or atovaquone-proguanil.  
 
8.4. Summary of known and potential risks and benefits  
Please refer to D2g Investigator’s Brochure. There is no benefit expected for subjects participating in 
this study. The risk to subjects after challenge infection with 3D7-infected human erythrocytes will be 
minimized by adherence to the inclusion/exclusion criteria and close clinical monitoring, which 
ensures that subjects with malaria will be treated at earliest stages of parasitemia. The risk of 
developing Red Blood Cell (RBC) alloantibodies in this study is considered extremely low since the 
donor blood used to produce the inocula was blood group O Rh(D) Negative. People with this blood 
group are generally considered “universal donors”, as recipients of their blood have minimal risk of 
developing RBC alloantibodies when given much larger volumes of blood than is used in the blood 
stage challenge model. However, it is possible that subjects could suffer a transfusion reaction after 
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transfusion more difficult in the future. To date, one subject has developed an antibody response to 
a minor Rh antigen (anti-E antibody) following blood stage inoculation with P. falciparum 3D7 (see 
Investigator Brochure). However, there was no laboratory evidence to indicate that the specific Rh 
phenotype of the donor RBCs in the inoculum provoked production of this allo anti-E antibody. 
Volunteers will be monitored for signs and symptoms in the period immediately after administration 
of the inoculum to further assess the risk of the inoculum in causing transfusion reaction. Volunteers 
of cohort B will also be tested for RBC alloantibodies at screening and at the end of the study as part 
of their safety monitoring (section 9.3.17). 
Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) have a small additional risk of developing RBC 
alloantibodies that could cause problems during pregnancy. WOCBP have participated in several 
blood stage malaria trials with P. falciparum isolate 3D7 with no known issues to date. WOCBP will 
receive matched donor blood, i.e. Rh(c) and/or Rh(e) negative woman will be excluded to participate 
in group 3 or 4, since the donor blood is Group O (Rh)D Negative ; C negative; E negative ; c positive ; 
e positive i.e. rr and  Kell negative. Furthermore, participants with a history of blood transfusion are 
excluded to participate in these groups. Specific strict contraception requirements will be requested 
for this population during the study (inclusion/exclusion criteria). Including WOCBP in the trial 
enhances the generalisability of the study results. Please also see the investigor’s brochure and 
section 7.4 above for the summary of known and potential risks and benefits after the malaria 
challenge in this study. The exposure to the blood stage malaria inoculum will occur at Radboudumc. 
 
8.5. Description of route of administration and dosage  
Please refer to D2g Investigator’s Brochure. The inoculation will take place at the Clinical Research 
Centre Nijmegen (CRCN) in the Radboudumc. The inoculum will be administered by intravenous 
injection into an indwelling intravenous cannula. Approximately ~2,800 infected red blood cells will 
be injected in a total volume of 2 mL of normal saline followed by a saline flush. The cannula will then 
be removed, and hemostasis ensured by use of an appropriate dressing. The time between 
preparation of the final inoculum and inoculation will be maximum 4 hours, during which time all 
inocula will be stored on ice. All volunteers will receive the inoculum within 60 minutes after 
preparation. Subjects will be observed closely for one hour before discharge. Emergency aid kits will 
be present and readily available at any location, whenever there are volunteers present. 
 
8.6. Preparation and labeling of Non Investigational Medicinal Product  
Please refer to D2g Investigator’s Brochure. The culture of parasites has been a routine procedure for 
over 20 years in the Malaria Unit of the Central Animal Facility of the Radboudumc, Nijmegen. The 
3D7 parasite is a clone of the NF54 P. falciparum isolate, originated from the Schiphol area. The 
isolate was originally derived from patient material and was frozen directly after processing. These 
blood products are PCR negative for blood-borne virses, including Hepatitis B, HIV, HCV, HumanT-
lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) 1+2 and seronegative for syphilis. The bank has tested negative by culture 
for bacteria and fungi and for Mycoplasma contamination.  
The infective inoculum will have been prepared from a single aliquot of the cryopreserved infected 
packed blood cells aliquots prepared as previously described (68) (Please refer to D2g Investigator’s 
Brochure for detailed description). Each dose of 2 mL will contain ~2,800 viable parasite infected 
erythrocytes. The inoculum will be prepared aseptically, as outlined in Standard Operating 
Procedures documents. The actual number of parasites inoculated will take into account the loss of 
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parasite viability following this process is ~30%, thus requiring ~8,300 infected erythrocytes per 
inoculum. The parasitemia of the cell bank was 212 p/µL blood which is nearly double in the frozen 
packed blood cells. Thus, each inoculation will be prepared to contain 250 µL of the thawed and 
diluted packed blood cell sample. This blood sample will contain about 19.5 × 107 erythrocytes and 
~8,300 infected erythrocytes of which around 2,800 of the parasites will be viable.  
Thawing and washing of the inoculum will be done with commercial cGCP solutions for human use 
and with disposable syringes and needles according to standard operating procedures used in 24 
previous studies at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Oxford University. Sample 
manipulations will be performed within a safety cabinet that has been especially cleaned and set 
aside for this purpose. After thawing of the blood inoculum, the cold chain (2-8 degrees) will be 
maintained at all times until the inoculum has been administered to the volunteer. Each step in this 
process is performed by an experienced technician, and checked and recorded on standardized 
forms by another technician according to standard operating procedures.  
 
8.7. Drug accountability  
The syringes containing the inocula of the blood stage parasites will be prepared at Radboudumc on 
the challenge day. The responsible employee will document receipt conditions and time restrictions 
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9. METHODS 
 
9.1. Study parameters/endpoints 
 
9.1.1. Main study parameter/endpoint 
 
Frequency and magnitude of adverse events in the CHMI-trans model. 
 
Prevalence of gametocytes and gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through 
mosquito membrane feeding assay (Direct Membrane Feeding Assay, DMFA).  
 
9.1.2. Secondary study parameters/endpoints  
 
Peak density and time-point of peak density of gametocytes by qRT-PCR. 
 
The area under the curve of gametocyte density versus time.  
 
Assessment of the dynamics of gametocyte commitment, maturation and sex-ratio. 
 
Prevalence of gametocyte infectiousness for Anopheles mosquitoes through Direct Feeding 
Assays (Direct Skin Feeding Assay, DFA).  
 
9.1.3. Exploratory study parameters/endpoints  
 
Quantification of gamete formation and fertilization as ex vivo indicators of gametocyte fitness. 
 
Antibodies to proteins expressed/exported during early gametocyte development. 
 
The association between the timing and density of gametocyte carriage and antibody responses 
to gametocyte antigens (including but not restricted to Pfs48/45, Pfs230, Pfs16, PfGEXP5). 
 
Antigen specificity and/or functionality of CHMI induced antibodies against Plasmodium 
falciparum.  
 
The specificity and/or functionality of CHMI induced T cell responses against Plasmodium 
falciparum. 
 
Epigenetic profiling of immune cells via Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and sequencing and/or 
RNA transcriptome profiling through whole mRNA-sequencing, PCR or microarray. 
 
Phenotype and/or function of immune responses to CHMI (with specific focus on innate 
lymphoid cells, ɣδT cells, monocytes, platelets, NK cells and granulocytes). 
 
Comparative transcriptome analysis of 3D7 blood stage challenge parasites and sporozoite 
challenge parasites during CHMI-trans.  
 
Hematological profiles for diagnostics in malaria 
 
To explore associations between elevated transaminases and inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, 
Ferritine, IFNɣ, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-r2, TGF-β, and MDA).  
9.2. Randomisation, blinding and treatment allocation 
This is an open-label study. The 24 volunteers will be allocated to one of the two groups per cohort at 
random according to a randomization list derived from the Microsoft Excel command ASELECTUSSEN 
(0,1000). Stratification will not be performed. An independent investigator at the Radboudumc, not 
involved in the clinical trial, is responsible for performing the randomization and for assigning 
volunteers according to the randomization list. A second employee, not involved in the assignment of 
volunteers, will check to see if randomization is done correctly. Every volunteer number per cohort 
will be linked to a random number between 0 and 1000. The six lowest numbers per cohort will be 
assigned group 1 (for cohort A) or 3 (for cohort B), the six highest numbers per cohort will be 
assigned to group 2 (for cohort A) or 4 (for cohort B). If two identical numbers are produced, the 


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whole procedure is repeated. The randomization list is kept in a fireproof clinical trial cabinet at 
Radboudumc. 
 
9.3. Study procedures 
9.3.1. Screening period: Screening, Inclusion and Baseline visits 
Volunteers who wish to participate in the trial will be asked to complete an informed consent 
questionnaire. Their understanding of the trial will be tested after discussing the study with the 
investigator during informed consent, and prior to being asked to sign and date the consent form. 
Volunteers who fail to answer all questions correctly on their first attempt are allowed to re-take the 
questionnaire following further discussion with the investigator, and provided they subsequently 
answer all questions correctly, they may then complete the consent form and be screened for the 
trial. 
Subjects who sign informed consent will undergo complete screening including a medical history, 
physical examination, vital signs, ECG, urine tests and laboratory evaluations (see sections 9.3.10). If 
physical examination, vital signs or laboratory values are out of the normal range a repeat 
measurement may be obtained.  
Subjects who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited back for enrollment into the study at the 
inclusion visit, which will occur within 3 to 8 days prior to the planned challenge day (day 0). Some 
screening assessments, including physical examination, vital signs, urine tests and laboratory 
evaluations, will be repeated at this inclusion visit.  
Following this screening period of up to 120 days, subjects who continue to meet the eligibility 
criteria (Section 4.2 and 4.3) will present to the study site the day before the challenge infection for 
baseline assessments. Patient history will be taken and all adverse events that have occurred since 
screening will be noted. Only subjects who still meet the inclusion criteria will receive bites of 
infected mosquito bites or be inoculated with parasitized erythrocytes. For each subject, study start 
will be defined as the day of the inclusion visit. 
 
9.3.2. Controlled Human Malaria Infection  
Only subjects that met the inclusion criteria will undergo a malaria challenge infection.  
Cohort A, on the challenge day all subjects will be exposed to the bites of five 3D7 P. falciparum 
infected mosquitoes. Mosquito feeding will be allowed for 10 minutes. Volunteers will receive a local 
treatment (tripelennamine crème) for mosquito bites and will be observed for 15 minutes after the 
feed. Directly after the feed, the mosquitoes will be dissected by a technician of the mosquito unit 
according to standard operating procedures. Exposure will be repeated until five infected mosquitoes 
have fed on each volunteer.  
As long as there are volunteers present in the mosquito unit, there will be supervision by one of the 
clinical investigators. Another clinical investigator will be on call, in case of emergency. Emergency 
aid kits will be present and readily available at any location, whenever there are volunteers present.  
Cohort B, on the challenge day all subjects will receive a blood stage inoculum containing 3D7 P. 
falciparum parasites. Subjects will be cannulated with an indwelling intravenous cannula for the 
malaria inoculum, and recorded which arm is utilized. The malaria inoculation will take place in the 
CRCN of the Radboudumc. As long as there are volunteers present in the CRCN, there will be 
supervision by one of the clinical investigators. Another clinical investigator will be on call, in case of 
emergency. Emergency aid kits will be present and readily available at any location, whenever there 


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are volunteers present. Volunteers will be observed for a minimum of 60 minutes after 
administration of the inoculum to evaluate for immediate adverse reactions.  
 
After malaria challenge infection all subjects will be observed closely according to an intensive out-
patient follow-up schedule including frequent safety analyses (see section 9.3.17 for details). The 
study design is illustrated in more detail in the flowchart in section 9.3.17. Subjects are required to 
reside locally within close proximity to the trial centre (<10 km) or (if >10km) be willing to stay in a 
hotel close to the trial centre during part of the study (from day 4 (blood stage challenge) or day 5 
(sporozoite challenge) post-infection until T1+4 provided that the subject has had 2 consecutive 
negative 18S qPCR tests (at least 24 hours apart) following T1 or T2 treatment; or until day T3+3).  
For all subjects, during this period all relevant investigations will be carried out on an outpatient basis 
at Radboudumc, including frequent safety analyses (section 9.3.17 for details).  
From day 4 (blood stage challenge) or 6 (sporozoite challenge) up until four days after treatment 1 
(T1+4) post-CHMI, assessments of parasite densities using qPCR will be performed on samples 
collected twice daily. Read-out of qPCR will only take place once daily. Therefore, a thick blood smear 
analysis will be performed in the evenings from day 5 (blood stage challenge) or day 7 (sporozoite 
challenge) until day of treatment (T1). Once daily assessment by qPCR will start from 5 days post 
treatment 1 (T1+5) until three days after day of treatment 3 (T3+3). From T3+3 until day 36, subjects 
will be seen 3 times a week or otherwise in case of symptoms. Subjects will measure their 
temperature twice daily, and contact the clinical investigators when any symptoms, complaints or 
fever occurs. All subjects will receive a final treatment (ET) according to national guidelines with 
atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®) on day 36. In case a volunteer remains 18S qPCR and Pfs25 qRT-
PCR negative for 7 days after T1 or T2, final treatment with Malarone® will also be initiated and end 
of study will apply for the volunteer. All subjects will visit the study site for a follow-up visit on day 2 
after commencing final treatment (ET+2). All subjects will be seen for a final control visit on day 51 
after CHMI. The study design is illustrated in more detail in the flowchart in section 9.3.17.  
Day time qPCR assessment will be performed in real time while evening samples will be assessed the 
next morning. To ensure safety, thick smears will be performed on all subjects from day 5 (blood 
stage challenge) or 7 (sporozoite challenge) until T1 who attend for follow-up in the evening or when 
a subject is febrile (≥38.0°C) after T1+4 (after morning visits). If a thick smear is positive in the 
evening (including symptoms for the blood stage challenge), treatment will be started immediately.  
As soon as a qPCR or thick smear result is deemed positive for malaria parasites, the technician will 
inform the trial clinician.  
 
Treatment 1 (T1) will be initiated using the following criteria:  
1. One positive 18S qPCR above 5000 parasites/mL (blood stage challenge only: and is accompanied 
by a clinical symptom score ≥ 6 or on day 8) 
2. One positive thick smear (which will be made if a volunteer attends an evening follow-up visit or 
on decision of the trial clinician) (blood stage challenge only: and is accompanied by a clinical 
symptom score ≥ 6). 
 
Treatment 2 (T2) will be initiated using the following criteria:  
1. Occurrence of recrudescent infection after T1 (prior day 21): 
 
as assessed by 18S qPCR above 1500 asexual parasites/mL and (possibly or probably related) 
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 
(in absence of symptoms) as assessed by 18S qPCR & Pfs25 qRT-PCR above 1500 asexual 
parasites/mL. 
2. One positive thick smear (which will be made if a subject is febrile (≥38.0°C) after morning visit) 
(blood stage challenge only: and is accompanied by a clinical symptom score ≥ 6). 
 
Treatment 3 (T3) will be initiated using the following criteria:  
1. Occurrence of recrudescent infection after T2 or on day 21: 
 
as assessed by 18S qPCR above 1500 asexual parasites/mL and (possibly or probably related) 
symptoms. 
 
(in absence of symptoms) as assessed by 18S qPCR & Pfs25 qRT-PCR above 1500 asexual 
parasites/mL. 
2. On One positive thick smear (which will be made if a subject is febrile (≥38.0°C) after morning 
visit) (blood stage challenge only: and is accompanied by a clinical symptom score ≥ 6). 
 
If treatment has to be initiated based on the above criteria, the trial clinician will contact the 
volunteer for immediate treatment. Preferably, the volunteer should return immediately or at least 
within 1 hour. If the volunteer is not reachable by phone, his/her contact person will be called and a 
search is started.  
During the entire study period subjects will be instructed to call the trial physicians at any time if they 
experience severe symptoms. The trial clinician can decide to initiate additional diagnostics, clinical 
observation/monitoring or (symptomatic) treatment at all times.  
For unexpected laboratory abnormalities, the laboratory test will be repeated. If there is any 
ambiguity regarding the decision to include or exclude a volunteer, the clinical supervisor will discuss 
the case with the local safety monitor and make the final decision after that, if necessary with 
consultation of a specialist. If volunteers prove to be eligible, they will be invited to the next visit.  
All subjects who are exposed to P. falciparum will be treated. Treatment after challenge infection will 
be based on the above mentioned criteria. Additionally, final treatment with Malarone® (ET) can be 
initiated in any of the following situations:  
1. By decision of study doctor or the safety monitor  
2. In consultation with the cardiologist 
3. On request of the volunteer  
4. On day 36 post CHMI  
5. When LDH > 1000 U/l  
Additionally, treatment with T1 or T3 can be initiated in the following situation: when platelet levels 
are <120x 10^9/L T1 can be initiated, and when platelet levels are <50x 10^9/L T3 can be initiated. 
Furthermore, subcurative treatment will be initiated when ALT/AST levels are >2.5xULN (prior T1), 
and/or curative anti-malarial treatment will be initiated when ALT/AST levels are >5x ULN (prior T1). 
 
 
9.3.3. Treatment with piperaquine (T1, T2, and T3 for group 1, 2, 3, and 4) 
All volunteers will be treated with a subcurative regimen (T1) of LD-PIP (piperaquine 480mg). A 
second subcurative regimen (T2) of LD-PIP2 (piperaquine 480mg) will subsequently be initiated when 
recrudescence occurs prior day 21 post challenge infection. In group 1 and/or 3, a curative regimen 
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on day 21 post challenge infection. All volunteers will be treated based on the predetermined criteria 
mentioned above.  
 
Treatment with piperaquine will be given after a fasting period of ≥ 3 hours. If dosing is to occur in 
the evening, subjects will be required to fast for ≥3 hours prior to receiving treatment. Subjects will 
be required to fast for a further four hours anytime after dosing with piperaquine.  
 
During treatment, complaints of malaria infection will be treated symptomatically. In addition to 
specific treatment with piperaquine, symptomatic treatment will be administered at the discretion of 
the attending physician.  
Volunteers will not be admitted to the hospital during this study, unless the study doctors or the 
safety monitor deems it necessary, or on request of the volunteer.  
 
9.3.4. Treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (T3 for groups 2 and 4) 
All volunteers in group 2 and 4 will be treated with a curative regimen (T3) of SP (1000mg/50mg) 
when recrudescence occurs after T2 or on day 21, whichever occurs first. All volunteers will be 
treated based on the predetermined criteria mentioned above. During treatment, complaints of 
malaria infection will be treated symptomatically. In addition to specific treatment with SP, 
symptomatic treatment will be administered at the discretion of the attending physician.  
Volunteers will not be admitted to the hospital during this study, unless the study doctors or the 
safety monitor deems it necessary, or on request of the volunteer.  
 
 
9.3.5. Treatment with Malarone® (ET) 
All volunteers will be treated with Malarone® (ET) on day 36. The treatment will consist of the drug 
Malarone® (atovaquon/proguanil). Dosing of Malarone® will be as follows: once daily 4 tablets of 
250/100mg, during three days according to Dutch SWAB guidelines. During the first day and last day 
of Malarone® treatment qPCR is performed directly in collected blood samples. If qPCR remains 
positive after Malarone® treatment (usually the result of parasite debris remaining in the 
bloodstream) a thick blood smear will be performed to confirm the absence of intact malaria 
parasites.  
Volunteers will not be admitted to the hospital during this study, unless the study doctors or the 
safety monitor deems it necessary, or on request of the volunteer.  
 
9.3.6. Physical examination  
A complete physical examination will include the examination of general appearance, skin, neck, 
eyes, throat, lungs, heart, abdomen, back and extremities, and a routine vascular and neurological 
examination.  
Height (cm) and body weight (to the nearest 0.1 kilogram [kg] in indoor clothing, but without shoes) 
will also be measured, at screening only. Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated using the following 
formula: BMI = Body weight (kg) / [Height (m)]2 and converted to an integer. 
 
9.3.7. Vital signs  
Vital signs including body temperature, blood pressure (BP) and pulse measurements will be 
determined and recorded at set time points during the study. Systolic and diastolic BP will be 
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automated validated device, with an appropriately sized cuff. In case the cuff sizes available are not 
large enough for the subject's arm circumference, a sphygmomanometer with an appropriately sized 
cuff may be used.  
If vital signs are out-of-range at screening or inclusion, the investigator may obtain two additional 
readings, so that a total of up to three consecutive assessments are made, with the subject seated 
quietly for approximately five minutes preceding each repeat assessment. At least the last reading 
must be within the normal range in order for the subject to qualify.  
Temperature will be measured according to local practice, consistently throughout the study. The 
thermometer used should have a precision of 0.1ºC. The same route should be used throughout the 
study. 
9.3.8. Patient-reported outcomes (study diary) 
At the inclusion visit, subjects will be issued symptom diaries and thermometers. They will be asked 
to record all symptoms and medication use daily from the day of inclusion until end of study. The 
subject diary will be reviewed at each study visit and used as a basis for discussion of possible 
adverse events or medication use. If the occurrence of an adverse event or use of medication is 
confirmed by the study physician, it is recorded in the subject’s study file (see also: section 10.3).  
Subjects will also be asked to measure their temperature orally every morning from the day of the 
malaria challenge infection until the third day of atovaquone/proguanil treatment, and record this 
temperature in their study diaries.  
At the end of the study, the diary will be collected and kept as source data with the subject’s study 
file. 
9.3.9. Electrocardiogram  
A standard 12 lead ECG will be performed at screening and 4-12 hours after treatment with 
piperaquine (focus on expected maximal piperaquine concentrations after oral dosing). Additional 
ECG assessments may be performed at anytime throughout the study at the discretion of the 
investigator.  
All assessments will occur after the subject has rested for approximately 10 minutes in the supine 
position. Calibration should be performed per the local site requirements. Each ECG tracing will be 
labeled with the subject number and date, and kept in the source documents at the study site. 
Interpretation of the tracing must be made by a qualified physician and documented in the Case 
Report Form (CRF). Minimally, the CRF will contain date and time of ECG, heart rate, PR interval, QRS 
duration and QT interval (corrected). Clinically significant abnormalities will also be recorded in the 
CRF and reported to the Safety Monitor. 
 
9.3.10. Blood sampling and safety laboratory evaluations  
During the study, blood samples will be drawn for screening, safety and research purposes. The 
blood sampling schedule in the flowchart (section 9.3.17) shows when blood will be drawn. 
Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count with differential (e.g. 
neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, lymphocytes) and platelet count will be measured at 
regular time points during the study.  
Alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, creatinine, γGT, LDH, potassium, AST, ALT, sodium, highly 
sensitive troponin T, urea, and amylase will be measured at regular time points during the study. 
Glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol will be measured only at screening. Volunteers will be tested 
for RBC alloantibodies (Rh(CDE) Kell typing, and antibody screening) at screening and at the end of 
the study. 


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In the event that an asymptomatic individual has evidence of an elevated troponin level, a second 
sample may be obtained to discern whether the result could represent a false positive (0.4% of 
tests).  
A midstream urine sample (approx. 30 ml) will be obtained at screening, inclusion and, for female 
subjects only, at baseline. In this sample the presence of amphetamines and cocaine will be assessed; 
the sample taken at inclusion will also be tested for the presence of cannabis. Additionally, for 
female participants a commercially available hCG urine test will be used to test for pregnancy at 
screening and baseline.  
In the case where a laboratory assessment is outside the reference range for the laboratory at 
screening and/or inclusion, a decision regarding whether the result is of clinical significance or not 
shall be made by the clinical investigator and shall be based, in part, upon the nature and degree of 
the observed abnormality. The assessment may be repeated once prior to randomization.  
In all cases, the investigator must document in the source documents, the clinical considerations (i.e., 
result was/was not clinically significant and/or medically relevant) in allowing or disallowing the 
subject to continue in the study. 
 
9.3.11. 
Analysis of asexual parasite densities after challenge infection  
qPCR for assessment of parasite densities will be performed directly in volunteer samples, as 
discussed previously (see section 9.3.2).  
qPCR is performed according to a standard procedure as previously described (Hermsen et al., 2001) 
with small adjustments. In short, qPCR will be performed on the multicopy 18S ribosomal RNA gene. 
All samples are spiked with the extraction control Phocine Herpes Virus (PhHV) to determine efficacy 
of DNA isolation.  
Thick smears will be performed directly in volunteer samples, as discussed previously and if deemed 
necessary by the clinical investigator (see section 9.3.2), according to a standard operating procedure 
which is based on an internationally harmonized protocol for thick smears in CHMIs (Moorthy et al., 
1998) and (WHO, 2010). Per slide, the number of fields correlating to 0.5 μl of blood will be read. 
Slides are considered positive if they contain 2 or more parasites in these fields. 
 
9.3.12. 
Direct Membrane Feeding Assays (DMFA) and Direct Skin Feeding Assays (DFA) 
A reproducible CHMI-trans model requires sufficient densities of circulating mature gametocytes in 
subjects to ensure the generation of adequate numbers of infected Anopheles mosquitoes after 
blood feeding, either directly on the skin (DFA) or through a membrane-covered device that contains 
a venous blood sample with gametocytes (DMFA). 
Following treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and/or piperaquine, transmission studies will 
be undertaken when gametocytemia appears. To evaluate infectivity in vector mosquitoes we will 
use a direct membrane feeding assay (DMFA) and a direct skin feeding assay (DFA). This study will 
use approximately 300 female mosquitoes for DMFA, and 20-30 female mosquitoes per cup for the 
DFA, per time-point to maximize the precision of mosquito infection estimates at low infection rates. 
For the DMFA, blood will be collected (see flowchart, section 9.3.17) from each participant for 
membrane feeding assays with An. stephensi mosquitoes. For the DMFA, blood will be kept at 38°C 
(to prevent premature exflagellation) for up to 35 minutes until dispensed into membrane feeders. 
Female mosquitoes (3-6 days old) will be distributed into 1L plastic containers with gauze lids (~300 
females/container/time point) and starved overnight prior to feeding on P. falciparum-infected blood 
samples. Mosquitoes will be allowed to feed on the blood through parafilm membranes attached to 


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water jacketed glass feeders attached to a 39°C water bath. Mosquitoes will be allowed to feed for 
up to 30 min in the dark. In the CHMI-trans1 related experiments, we have achieved 90% feeding 
rate with our Anopheles stephensi colony. Non-engorged mosquitoes will be identified and discarded. 
After blood feeding, mosquitoes will be maintained in environmental chambers set at 26°C and 
provided with 5% glucose as described(70).  
For the DFA, 20-30 mosquitoes in one cup will be allowed to bite on alternating sides of the volar 
surface of the forearms to directly feed for approximately 15 minutes to enable mosquitoes to fully 
engorge. The experimental infection of mosquitoes by DMFA and DFA will be performed up to 3 
times prior to curative anti-malarial treatment at the End of Study with Malarone®. 
 
Six to nine days after blood feeding, mosquitoes will be dissected and examined for oocysts in midgut 
preparations. For permanent preparations, oocysts will be stained with 1% mercurochrome in H2O 
for 5 to 60 minutes then fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde(71). Oocysts will be counted 
per mosquito dissected and recorded. Relationship between parasitemia, gametocytemia and 
mosquito infection (both oocyst prevalence and intensity) will be determined using generalized-
linear mixed models(72). The number of mosquitoes dying prior to dissection will be recorded. For 
mosquitoes that cannot be examined by microscopy due to logistical reasons (e.g. if multiple 
DMFA/DFA experiments are conducted on the same day, the number of available mosquitoes may 
exceed the maximum number that can be dissected), infection status will be determined on day 10 
following the blood meal by circumsporozoite ELISA, followed by PCR confirmation based on the 18S 
rRNA target(73). At this day, ELISA-based detection of malaria parasites has equal sensitivity 
compared to microscopy or PCR(73, 74). 
 
9.3.13. 
Quantification of gametocytes, and gametocyte sex ratio. 
A detailed quantification of gametocytes, gametocyte sex ratio, and gametocyte infectivity will be 
assessed by using molecular markers, and ex vivo assessments of gametocyte fitness after CHMI 
challenge infection. Quantification of gametocytes will be performed using a Pfs25 mRNA QT-NASBA, 
and quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR(32, 75) P, targeting PfGEXP5(76), PF14_0748 (young 
gametocytes)(77) PF14_0367 (mature gametocytes)(77) and P230p (male gametocytes)(32). 
Additional markers of gametocyte maturity and sex ratio will be incorporated as these become 
available. qRT-PCR determination of circulating gametocytes will be performed on every day after 
detection of parasitemia by 18S qPCR.  
Blood samples will be taken from EDTA-vials taken for routine qPCR analysis (see flowchart, section 
9.3.17). 100μL will be directly transferred into a cryovial containing 400μL of RNAprotect for qPCR 
stage composition analysis. Another 1mL will be enriched prior to analysis, through gametocyte 
separation by magnetic sorting. This approach takes advantage of the differential deposition of 
paramagnetic hemozoin by different parasite stages: asexual ring stages have very low hemozoin 
content, while later stages including all gametocyte stages have higher content; therefore this 
method allows for the enrichment of gametocytes using magnetic fractionation(78, 79). In both 
samples, gametocyte presence will be determined using an established multiplex qRT-PCR stage 
composition assay that targets gametocyte specific RNA and detects both immature gametocytes 
and mature gametocytes (77). Furthermore, thick smears will be analysed on DMFA time-points to 
look for gametocytes (see 9.3.17 Flowchart Study Design). 
 


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9.3.14. 
Effect of systemic inflammation on transient subclinical organ injury 
Bloodsamples will be taken for plasma/serum analysis to explore associations between elevated 
transaminases and different inflammatory biomarkers which are known to be increased during a 
CHMI or natural acquired uncomplicated malaria such as C-Reactive Protein(19), Ferritine(80), IFN-
γ(19, 81), IL-6(19), IL-10(19, 81), TNF-r2 and TGF-β(82). A relation between these biomarkers and 
subclinical organ injury in malaria has never been explored. Furthermore, Malondialdehyde (MDA) 
will be assessed as a sensitive marker for oxidative stress to explore the relation with subclinical 
organ injury (40, 83-86).  
 
 
9.3.15. 
Immunological assays 
Blood samples will be taken for isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum 
(see flowchart 9.3.17).  
PBMCs and sera will be frozen and can then be used by the Radboudumc or its collaborators for 
exploratory immunological assays to further analyse the phenotype or functionality of the immune 
response during and after malaria infection. 
In order to assess (antigen specific) T cell responses, the HLA-type of volunteers may be determined. 
Antibody responses will also be measured to gametocyte antigens, including recombinant proteins 
Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 using standard ELISA methodologies(87). 
 
 
9.3.16. 
Case report forms and data collection  
All data collected by the investigators is registered in electronic case report forms. The investigator’s 
notes are collected in subject study files and are considered source data. Since all subjects will be 
healthy, there is no medical file for the study subjects, with exception of the medical file in case of 
adverse events/reactions resulting in a medical consultation or hospitalization. In this case the 
medical file will also be considered as the source data. The diaries, produced by the study volunteers 
are also considered source data. They will be kept as source documents together with the 
investigator’s notes. 
 


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9.3.17. 
Flowchart Study Design  
COHORT A - Sporozoite challenge 
  
Screening  
Inclusion 
Baseline 
CHMI 
Phase 1 
  
  
  
  
Phase 2 
  
EOS 
Visit Number 
V1 
V2 
V3 
V4 
V5-34 
V35-44 
V45 
Trial timeline 
-120 to -11 
-8 to -3 
-1 
0 
6-20 
T19 
T1+1-4 
T29 T2+1-3 T39 T3+1-3 27-35 
36 (ET) ET+2 (38) 51 
Number of visits 
1x 
1x 
1x 
1x 
2x/day 
2x/day 
2x/day 
  
  
1x 
1x 
3x/week 1x 
1x 
1x 
Informed consent 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Eligibility criteria 
X 
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Demographic data, Medical history 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Physical examination and vital signs 
X 
X 
  
  
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
  
ECG 
X 
  
  
  
  
X11 
  
X11 
  
X11 
  
  
  
  
  
Temperature 
X 
X 
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Challenge with 5 infected mosquitoes 
  
  
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Collecting (serious) adverse events 
as necessary16 
Subcurative treatment1 
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Curative treatment2 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
Final treatment (ET; Malarone®) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
  
Haematology tests3 (2.0ml) 
X 
X 
  
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Biochemistry tests4,18 (3.0ml) 
X 
X 
X 
  
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
  
X12 
X12 
HsTropT + LDH (2.0ml) 
  
  
  
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
  
Serology (5.0ml)5 
X 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Pregnancy and toxicology urine test15 
X 
X 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Parasitology6 (qPCR) 
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Parasitology (thick blood smear) 
  
  
  
  
X13 
  
  
  
  
X13 
  
X13 
X13  
  
  
Parasitology7 (qRT-PCR) 
  
  
X 
  
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
DMFA and DFA 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X14 
  
X14 
X14 
  
  
Exploratory immunology 
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
  
  
X 
Safety report8 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X  
  
  
  
  
X 
Total blood volume collect17 
12.5 
8.5 
61 
0 
223 
134 
 
61 
1 piperaquine (480mg)  


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2 piperaquine (960mg) or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg) according to treatment arm 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
3 Hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, red blood cell count, white blood cell count + differentiation 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
4 Creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, bilirubin, AF, γGT, AST, ALT, LDH and hs-Trop-T. Additional at screening: cholesterol, triglyceride + glucose 
5 HIV, HBV, HCV, P. falciparum(screening only) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
6 18S qPCR for blood stage P. falciparum. Additional thick blood smear only on indication, blood will be taken from qPCR samples.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
7 Pfs25 qRT-PCR for sexual stage P. falciparum. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
8 A safety report will be compiled upon all subjects having completed day 21 after challenge and at the end of the study. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
9 See treatment criteria section 9 Methods 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
10 On indication. Performed at treatment visit only when volunteers are qPCR positive. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
11 Within 4-12 hours after treatment with piperaquine 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
12 On C+6, C+8, C+10, T1, T1+2, T1+4, T1+6, T2, T2+2, T2+4, T2+6, T3, T3+2,T3+6, ET+2, and EOS 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
13 On evening visits from day 7 until T1, and at DMFA timepoints. Additional thick blood smear only on indication, blood will be taken from qPCR samples.  
14 On day 21, 24 and between day 21-36 (based on the height of gametocytemia as measured by Pfs25 qRT-PCR) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
15 Toxicology urine tests at screening and inclusion visits only. Pregnancy test for female subjects at screening and baseline visits only, 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
16 Only SAE’s that are possibly or probably related to trial will be collected prior to inclusion. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
17 Total blood volume: 500ml 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
18 Additional amylase will be measured on screening, baseline and T1+2 


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COHORT B – Blood stage challenge 
 
  
Screening  
Inclusion 
Baseline 
CHMI 
Phase 1 
  
  
  
  Phase 2 
  
EOS 
Visit Number 
V1 
V2 
V3 
V4 
V5-30 
V31-40 
V41 
Trial timeline 
-120 to -11 
-8 to -3 
-1 
0 
4-7 
T19 
T1+1-4 
T29 
T2+1-3 
T39 
T3+1-3 
27-35 
36 (ET) 
ET+2 (38) 
51 
Number of visits 
1x 
1x 
1x 
1x 
2x/day 
2x/day 
2x/day 
  
  
1x 
1x 
3x/week 
1x 
1x 
1x 
Informed consent 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Eligibility criteria 
X 
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Demographic data, Medical history 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Physical examination and vital signs 
X 
X 
  
  
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
X10 
  
ECG 
X 
  
  
  
  
X11 
  
X11 
  
X11 
  
  
  
  
  
Temperature 
X 
X 
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Challenge with infected erythrocytes 
  
  
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Collecting (serious) adverse events 
as necessary16 
Subcurative treatment1 
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Curative treatment2 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
  
  
  
  
Final treatment (ET; Malarone®) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X 
  
  
Haematology tests3,19 (2.0ml) 
X 
X 
  
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Biochemistry tests4,18 (3.0ml) 
X 
X 
X 
  
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
X12 
  
X12 
X12 
HsTropT + LDH (2.0ml) 
  
  
  
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
  
Serology (5.0ml)5 
X 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Pregnancy and toxicology urine test15 
X 
X 
X 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Parasitology6 (qPCR) 
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Parasitology (thick blood smear) 
  
  
  
  
X13 
  
  
  
  
X13 
  
X13 
 X13 
  
  
Parasitology7 (qRT-PCR) 
  
  
X 
  
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
DMFA and DFA 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
X14 
  
X14 
X14 
  
  
Exploratory immunology 
  
  
X 
  
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
  
  
X 
Safety report8 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 X 
  
  
  
  
X 
Total blood volume collect17 
12.5 
8.5 
61 
0 
223 
134 
61 
1 piperaquine (480mg)  
2 piperaquine (960mg) or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (1000mg/50mg) according to treatment arm 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
3 Hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, red blood cell count, white blood cell count + differentiation  
  
4 Creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, bilirubin, AF, γGT, AST, ALT, LDH and hs-Trop-T. Additional at screening: cholesterol, triglyceride + glucose 
5 HIV, HBV, HCV, P. falciparum(screening only) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
6 18S qPCR for blood stage P. falciparum. Additional thick blood smear only on indication, blood will be taken from qPCR samples.  


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7 Pfs25 qRT-PCR for sexual stage P. falciparum. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
8 A safety report will be compiled upon all subjects having completed day 21 after challenge and at the end of the study.  
9 See treatment criteria section 9 Methods 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
10 On indication. Performed at treatment visit only when volunteers are qPCR positive. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
11 Within 4-12 hours after treatment with piperaquine 
12 On C+6, C+8, C+10, T1, T1+2, T+4, T+6, T2, T2+2, T2+4, T2+6, T3, T3+2,T3+6, ET+2, and EOS 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
13 On evening visits from day 5 until T1, and at DMFA timepoints. Additional thick blood smear only on indication, blood will be taken from qPCR samples. 
14 On day 21, 24 and between day 21-36 (based on the height of gametocytemia as measured by Pfs25 qRT-PCR) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
15 Toxicology urine tests at screening and inclusion visits only. Pregnancy test for female subjects at screening and baseline visits only, 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
16 Only SAE’s that are possibly or probably related to trial will be collected prior to inclusion. 
17 Total blood volume: 500ml 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
18 Additional amylase will be measured on screening, baseline and T1+2 
    
  
  
  
      
  
  
  
  
19 Subjects will be tested for RBC alloantibodies (Rh(CDE) Kell typing, and antibody screening) at screening and at the end of the study 


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9.4. Withdrawal of individual subjects 
Subjects can leave the study at any time for any reason if they wish to do so without any penalty or 
loss of medical benefits.  
The investigator can decide to withdraw a subject from the study for urgent medical reasons.  
Volunteers can be withdrawn from the study procedures at the discretion of the clinical investigator 
or the local safety monitor for the following reasons:  
 
Any serious adverse event  
 
Any adverse event that, according to clinical judgment of the investigator, is considered as a 
definite contraindication to proceeding with the study procedures.  
 
The use of concomitant, chronic medication active on the immune system (e.g. steroids, 
immunosuppressive agents) or with known antimalarial activity against P. falciparum  
 
Pregnancy  
 
Withdrawal of informed consent by volunteer  
 
Completely lost to follow-up  
 
Ineligibility (either arising during the study or retrospectively, having been overlooked at 
screening). 
 
If, on balance, the investigator or safety monitor believes that continuation would be 
detrimental to the subject’s well-being  
 
Volunteer non-compliance with study requirements. 
 
Any other protocol deviation that results in a significant risk to the subject’s safety  
 
If a subject withdrawal occurs for any reason, the investigator must make every effort to determine 
the primary reason for a subject’s withdrawal from the study and record this information in the study 
file. However, in accordance with the principles of the current version of the Declaration of Helsinki, 
a subject does have the right to withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason, and is not 
obliged to give his or her reasons for doing so. 
If it is felt that inclusion of the study subject’s data for analysis is compromised, the subject will be 
terminated from the study and data will not be included in analysis. This does not preclude the 
ethical responsibility of the investigators to ensure the safety of the subject and ensure they receive 
curative therapy for malaria (Malarone), and follow the subject for cardiac manifestations of disease. 
All data generated before withdrawal will be included in final study analysis. Blood samples collected 
before withdrawal will be used/stored unless the subject specifically requests otherwise. 
For subjects who are lost to follow-up (i.e. those subjects whose status is unclear because they fail to 
appear for study visits without stating an intention to withdraw), extensive effort (i.e. documented 
phone calls and e-mails) will be undertaken to locate or recall him or at least to determine his health 
status. The investigator should show "due diligence" by documenting in the source documents steps 
taken to contact the subject, e.g. dates of telephone calls, registered letters, etc. 
 
9.5. Replacement of individual subjects after withdrawal 
If a subject withdraws before or on inclusion day he/she will be replaced with an alternate volunteer 
who passed screening, if possible. 
 


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9.6. Follow-up of subjects withdrawn from treatment 
In the event that a volunteer discontinues the study for any reason, he/she will be required to 
complete all safety follow-up as appropriate, as determined by the principal investigator. All 
volunteers who have been exposed to the bites of infectious mosquitoes are required to take a 
curative regimen of Malarone® (or alternative effective anti-malarial treatment should Malarone® be 
contra-indicated, at the discretion of the clinical investigator).  
 
9.7. Premature termination of the study 
The study may be discontinued by the sponsor:  
 
On advice of the safety monitor  
 
On advice of the Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC)  
 
On advice of the clinical investigator  
 
On advice of the CCMO  
 
The safety monitor, SMC, CCMO or investigators may decide to put the study on hold based on 
adverse events, pending discussion with the Sponsor / SMC / CCMO / safety monitor / investigators. 
Following discussion, it may be decided to terminate the study. Safety reporting procedures are 
described in section 10. 


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10. SAFETY REPORTING 
10.1. 
Temporary halt for reasons of subject safety 
In accordance to section 10, subsection 4, of the WMO, the sponsor will suspend the study if there is 
sufficient ground that continuation of the study will jeopardise subject health or safety. The sponsor 
will notify the CCMO without undue delay of a temporary halt including the reason for such an 
action. The study will be suspended pending further review by the accredited METC, except insofar 
as suspension would jeopardise the subject’s health. The investigator will take care that all subjects 
are kept informed. 
PATH REC and WIRB will also be notified of any decisions to prematurely suspend or terminate the 
study. 
 
10.2. 
AEs, SAEs and SUSARs 
10.2.1. Adverse events (AEs) 
Adverse events are defined as any undesirable experience occurring to a subject during the study, 
whether or not considered related to a trial procedure or the experimental intervention. All adverse 
events reported spontaneously by the subject or observed by the investigator or his or her staff will 
be recorded. 
Abnormal laboratory findings (e.g. clinical chemistry or haematology) or other abnormal assessments 
that are judged by the investigator to be clinically significant will be recorded as AEs (or SAEs if they 
meet the definition). The investigator will exercise his or her medical and scientific judgement in 
deciding whether an abnormal laboratory finding or other abnormal assessment is clinically 
significant.  
If there are any severe complaints not typical for malaria infection, such as chest pain, the volunteer 
will be evaluated immediately by a qualified clinician using the appropriate clinical assessments (e.g. 
ECG or measurement of cardiac enzymes) according to standard hospital care. 
 
10.2.2. Serious adverse events (SAEs) 
A serious adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence or effect that  
 
results in death; 
 
is life threatening (at the time of the event); 
 
requires hospitalisation or prolongation of existing inpatients’ hospitalisation; 
 
results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity; 
 
is a congenital anomaly or birth defect; or 
 
any other important medical event that did not result in any of the outcomes listed above 
due to medical or surgical intervention but could have been, based upon appropriate 
judgement by the investigator. 
An elective hospital admission will not be considered as a serious adverse event. 
 
The investigator will report all SAEs to the sponsor and the safety monitor without undue delay after 
obtaining knowledge of the events (within 24 hours). All SAEs will be reported through the web 
portal ToetsingOnline to the CCMO, within 7 days for SAEs that result in death or are life threatening 
followed by a period of maximum of 8 days to complete the initial preliminary report by the 
investigator/sponsor. All other SAEs will be reported within a period of maximum 15 days after the 
sponsor has first knowledge of the serious adverse events. 
 


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10.2.3. Suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) 
Adverse reactions are all untoward and unintended responses to an investigational product related 
to any dose administered. 
 
Unexpected adverse reactions are SUSARs if the following three conditions are met: 
1. the event must be serious (see chapter 9.2.2); 
2. there must be a certain degree of probability that the event is a harmful and an undesirable 
reaction to the medicinal product under investigation, regardless of the administered dose; 
3. the adverse reaction must be unexpected, that is to say, the nature and severity of the 
adverse reaction are not in agreement with the product information as recorded in the 
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or investigational brochure (IB).  
 
The sponsor will report expedited all SUSARs through the web portal ToetsingOnline to the CCMO. 
The expedited reporting of SUSARs through the web portal ToetsingOnline is sufficient as notification 
to the competent authority. The expedited reporting will occur not later than 15 days after the 
sponsor has first knowledge of the adverse reactions. For fatal or life threatening cases the term will 
be maximal 7 days for a preliminary report with another 8 days for completion of the report. 
As this is an open label study in which the sponsor, investigator and the SMC are not blinded to 
treatment allocation, the code would not have to be broken in the case of a SUSAR.  
 
Any SAEs, SUSARs or AEs that suggest the research places subjects or others at a greater risk of harm 
(including physical, psychological, economic, or social harm) than was previously known or 
recognized, or that require a change to the protocol or consent will be reported to PATH REC and/or 
WIRB in accordance with the reporting requirements of each. 
 
10.3. 
Follow-up of (serious) adverse events 
10.3.1. Adverse event data collection 
Safety assessments will be performed and recorded by the investigators. All adverse events/reactions 
(solicited and unsolicited), noted by the investigators will be accurately documented in the case 
report form by the investigators. For each event/reaction the following details will be recorded:  
1. Description of the event(s)/reaction(s)  
2. Date and time of occurrence  
3. Duration 
4. Intensity 
5. Relationship with the intervention 
6. Action taken, including treatment 
7. Outcome 
 
In addition, symptoms will be ranked as (1) mild, (2) moderate, or (3) severe, depending on their 
intensity according to the following scale: 
 
Mild (grade 1): awareness of symptoms that are easily tolerated and do not interfere with usual 
daily activity  
 
Moderate (grade 2): discomfort that interferes with or limits usual daily activity 
 
Severe (grade 3): disabling, with subsequent inability to perform usual daily activity, resulting in 
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If an AE changes in intensity during the specified reporting period, a new description of the AE will be 
added. 
When an AE/SAE occurs, it is the responsibility of the investigators to review all documentation (e.g. 
hospital progress notes, laboratory, and diagnostics reports) related to the event. The investigators 
will then record all relevant information regarding an AE/SAE on the CRF or SAE Report Form, 
respectively. The investigator will attempt to establish a diagnosis of the event based on signs, 
symptoms, and/or other clinical information. In such cases, the diagnosis should be documented as 
the AE/SAE and not the individual signs/symptoms. 
 
The investigators will keep record of a clinical symptom score per volunteers (Appendix 1) during the 
blood stage challenge to assess if treatment is needed be initiated (see treatment criteria section 
9.3). 
 
10.3.2. Assessment of causality 
The investigators are obligated to assess the relationship between study procedures and the 
occurrence of each AE/SAE. The investigators will use clinical judgment to determine the 
relationship. Alternative causes, such as natural history of the underlying diseases, concomitant 
therapy, other risk factors and the temporal relationship of the event to the challenge will be 
considered and investigated. The relationship of the adverse event with the study procedures will be 
categorized as: 
 
Probable 
An adverse event that follows a reasonable temporal sequence from the study 
procedure and cannot be reasonably explained by the known characteristics of the 
subject’s clinical state. 
Possible 
An adverse event for which insufficient information exists to exclude that the event 
is related to the study procedure. 
Not related 
An event for which sufficient information exists to indicate that the aetiology is 
unrelated either because of the temporal sequence of events or because of the 
subject’s clinical state or other therapies. 
 
10.3.3. Follow-up of adverse events 
All AEs will be followed until they have abated, or until a stable situation has been reached. AEs that 
result in a subject’s withdrawal from the study or that are present at the end of the study will be 
followed up (if the volunteer consents to this) until a satisfactory resolution or stabilisation occurs, or 
until a non-study related causality is assigned.  
Depending on the event, follow up may require additional tests or medical procedures as indicated, 
and/or referral to the general physician or a medical specialist. 
AEs and SAEs will be reported until end of study within the Netherlands, defined as the last patient 
visit. 
 
10.4. 
Local Safety Monitor (LSM) and Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) 
10.4.1. Local safety monitor 
For this study, a local safety monitor will appointed, who is based in the Raboudumc and will be 
involved in the review of severe and serious adverse events and volunteer safety. He/she is an 


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experienced clinician qualified to evaluate safety data from clinical studies with malaria infections. 
He/she is independent of the sponsor and the investigators. 
 
10.4.2. Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) 
An independent Safety Monitoring Committee (SMC) will be appointed, including at least 3 
individuals. Their main responsibility will be assessing any severe or serious adverse events and, if 
necessary, halting further study procedures. A safety report including a list of all reported adverse 
events and any safety laboratory values outside the normal range will be prepared for all groups 
upon day 21 by all subjects and at the end of the study. For further details see section 9.3.17. 
The advice(s) of the SMC will only be sent to the sponsor of the study and the funding partner, PATH. 
Should the sponsor decide not to fully implement the advice of the SMC, the sponsor will send the 
advice to the CCMO, including a note to substantiate why (part of) the advice of the SMC will not be 
followed. 
 
10.4.3. Review of safety data by the safety monitor and SMC 
A safety report including a list of all reported adverse events and any safety laboratory values outside 
the normal range will be prepared upon all subjects having completed the day 21 visit after the 
malaria challenge infection and at the end of the study. 
These reports will be prepared by a clinical investigator and sent to the safety monitor, all clinical 
investigators involved and the funding partner, PATH. The safety monitor will review the safety data 
within 2 workdays and if warranted instruct the site to take appropriate action.  
In addition, safety data for all participants will be assessed by the SMC at the end of the study. 
Responsibilities of the SMC are described in the SMC Charter. The advice(s) of the SMC will only be 
communicated to the CCMO when the sponsor does not follow this. With this notification a 
statement will be included indicating whether the advice will be followed. 
Any highly sensitive troponin T value greater than 60ng/l will be reported to the safety monitor 
within 24 hours. Any safety laboratory values that lead to immediate malaria treatment will be 
reported to the safety monitor within 24 hours.  
 
10.4.4. Safety stopping rules 
The study may be placed on safety hold for the following reasons: 
 
On advice of the safety monitor 
 
On advice of the Principal/Clinical investigators 
 
On advice of the SMC 
 
On advice of the CCMO 
 
One or more participants experience a SAE that is determined to be related to the study 
intervention 
 
Two or more grade 3 adverse events in the same group of subjects, which are unexpected and 
possibly, probably or definitively related to the study intervention. 
 
Any clinical cardiac event that does not meet the criteria of SAE 
 
The safety monitor, CCMO, or investigators may decide to put the study on hold based on adverse 
events, pending discussion with the safety monitor, CCMO, and investigators. In addition, the PI can 
always decide based on characteristics, duration and severity of signs/symptoms to treat and stop 
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appropriate parties. The safety monitor will review all available safety data on a pre-defined time 
point after the challenge period. If the CCMO has recommended safety hold, re-initiation of the study 
will require CCMO concurrence. The CCMO, PATH REC and WIRB will be informed of a safety hold by 
the sponsor. Following discussion, it may be decided to terminate the study. 
 
 
 


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11. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 
 
11.1. 
Primary study parameter(s)  
All adverse events for each volunteer will be tabulated. Adverse events will be analyzed by 
calculating the proportion of volunteers in each group who report mild, moderate or severe adverse 
events. The frequency of signs and symptoms will be compared between groups with the chi-square 
test. 
Any clinically important deviations from normal occurring in routine laboratory test results and/or 
vital signs as determined by the investigator will be listed.  
Clinical laboratory data (haematology, blood chemistry, and urinalysis) which is outside of the normal 
range will be listed in tables. Isolated laboratory abnormalities will be reported as AEs if they are 
considered to be clinically significant by the Investigator. Vital signs which are outside of the normal 
range and clinically significant will also be listed in tables. All adverse events will be listed by 
participant and will include details of the treatment received prior to onset, onset time, duration, 
severity and relationship to the study drug. 
 
In this trial, we will determine the suitability of our treatment strategies to induce gametocytemia, 
defined as gametocyte prevalence by Pfs25 qRT-PCR on any moment during follow-up and to achieve 
infectiousness to mosquitoes. Based on preliminary data, we expect >95% individuals will develop 
gametocytes after commencing treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine(37) or piperaquine(25). 
In CHMI-trans1, 100% (16/16) individuals developed gametocytes. The CHMI-trans approach is 
considered unsuitable if <50% of individuals develop mature gametocytes; the lower limit of the 
confidence interval around the proportion of gametocyte positive individuals should thus be above 
50%. If we enroll 12 individuals of whom 11 become gametocyte positive, the lower limit of the 99% 
confidence interval around this proportion is 52%. We anticipate that ~73% of the individuals who 
are exposed to Pf by blood stage inoculation will infect at least one mosquito (Collins, unpublished 
data). Within each of the inoculation means (mosquito inoculation versus blood stage, 12 
participants each) we may thus expect 8 or 9 infectious individuals and consequently a lower limit of 
the 95% confidence interval around the proportion of infectious individuals ≥34%. 
Comparisons between groups are underpowered by conventional frequentist approaches and a 
Bayesian model will be used to select the challenge and treatment strategy with evidence for highest 
gametocyte prevalence, density, infectiousness prevalence and mosquito infection rates. 
The aim of this Bayesian analysis is not to test for statistical significance of subtle differences in 
gametocyte density or mosquito infection rates per arm but rather select the inoculation and 
treatment strategy with the highest level of evidence of sufficiently high gametocyte densities and 
mosquito infection rates to allow the CHMI trans model to be used for the evaluation of 
transmission-blocking interventions.  
 
11.2. 
Secondary study parameter(s)  
Demographic data will be summarized by descriptive statistics and will include total number of 
observations (n), mean, standard deviation (SD) and range for continuous variables and number and 
% with characteristics for dichotomous variables.  
 


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11.3. 
Other study parameters  
In immunological analyses we will assess differences by comparing mean values between groups or 
time points using either a two-tailed student’s t-test (if comparing two groups) or a one-way ANOVA 
(if comparing more than two groups) or non-parametric equivalents. Paired tests will be used if pre-
intervention values are compared with post intervention values, unpaired tests will be used if 
comparisons are made between groups. For discrete variables (e.g. the number of positive assays), 
the chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test will be used (two-tailed). 


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12. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 
 
12.1. 
Regulation statement 
This study will be conducted in accordance with the latest Fortaleza revision of the Declaration of 
Helsinki (2013), the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO), the ICH Good Clinical 
Practice, and local regulatory requirements. 
The investigators are responsible for obtaining all relevant Ethics Committee (EC) / Institutional 
Review Board (IRB) approvals, including WIRB approval, of the protocol and any subsequent 
amendments in compliance with local law before the start of the study. 
 
12.2. 
Recruitment and consent 
As soon as the study is approved by the CCMO and WIRB, healthy volunteers will be recruited to 
participate in the study. Advertisements will be placed in prominent places on university campuses 
and other public places as well as on the intranet of the Radboud University. Furthermore, a 
Facebook page (link: http://www.facebook.com/malariavaccin) showing the advertisement text will 
be used to inform people about the trial. This brief advertisement will indicate a telephone number 
to call and an e-mail address for contact to request further information. It will furthermore indicate a 
website (www.malariavaccin.nl) which contains a form. This short questionnaire will be completed 
using the online form. When seemingly suitable volunteers contact investigators via e-mail, 
telephone or the online form, they will be invited to an information meeting during which the study 
will be explained to them by the study investigator. Directly after the meeting they will be provided 
with documents to review at home (the information sheet, the informed consent form, the 
application form and the insurance text). During and after the meeting there will be time for 
questions. After this free discussion with the investigator, and any follow-up discussion if necessary, 
the volunteer will be given sufficient time to consider participation. 
Volunteers who are interested in participating will be asked to fill in the application form and will be 
invited to come for a screening visit. Eligible subjects may only be included in the study after 
providing written, CCMO- and WIRB-approved informed consent. Informed consent must be 
obtained before conducting any study-specific procedures (i.e. all of the procedures described in the 
protocol, including screening procedures). The process of obtaining informed consent should be 
documented in the subject source documents. During the screening visit, the questionnaire answers 
will be discussed and inclusion and exclusion criteria will be checked. Also, a letter for the general 
practitioner will be signed and sent after screening. Again, the investigator will answer any questions 
the volunteer has. The possibility of withdrawal from the study, at any time, without penalty and 
without any declaration of the reason will be pointed out to the volunteers. 
The investigators will be responsible for providing adequate verbal and written information regarding 
the objectives and procedures of the study, the potential risks involved and the obligations of the 
volunteers. Volunteers will be informed that they will not gain health benefits from this study. 
Trainees or other students who might be dependent on the investigators or the study group will not 
be included in the study. 
 
12.3. 
Benefits and risks assessment, group relatedness 
Two major areas of ethical concern are contained within this proposal, namely the use of blood from 
humans and the use of human volunteers for P. falciparum CHMI. All partners in this proposal are 
aware of and follow the relevant national and international rules and regulations as they pertain to 


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access to material of human origin and clinical research. International agreements such as the 
Declaration of Helsinki will be observed and respected. 
 
12.4. 
Ethical aspects concerning the production of P. falciparum infected mosquitoes 
The human blood and serum used for parasite culture is obtained from screened healthy blood 
donors from Sanquin. Continuous culture of the drug sensitive P. falciparum strain NF54/3D7 has 
been routine for the Central Animal Facility of the Radboudumc over the past 3 decades. All culture 
material is checked for bacterial contamination, including Mycoplasma, and for blood-borne 
pathogens (HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV 1+2). The process has become highly standardized as described in 
standard operating procedures and was positively reviewed by an external auditor in 2014. 
 
12.5. 
Ethical aspects concerning the use of human volunteers 
Infection of humans with malaria has been carried out for nearly a century, including for therapeutic 
use as treatment for neurosyphilis and later for drug and vaccine evaluation. The ability to carry out 
this type of work is largely based on the relatively low morbidity and the lack of mortality seen in 
these studies since the advent of feeding mosquitoes on P. falciparum gametocyte cultures in 1986 
(28). The occurrence of three cardiac events in volunteers participating in phase I/IIa malaria vaccine 
trials in Nijmegen has raised discussion about the safety of malaria challenge trials with respect to 
cardiac events. Based on recommendations of the CCMO and an External Scientific Advisory 
Committee to the European Malaria Vaccine Development Association, this malaria challenge trial 
protocol has been adjusted (see also section 1.4 and 14). In 2016 the occurrence of mild, transient 
liver injury and transient increased creatinine levels during CHMI was extensively evaluated. Based 
on recommendations of the CCMO and external experts, the malaria challenge protocol was 
modified to include extra monitoring (see also section 1.4 and 14). 
 
Testing in human subjects remains the only reliable and convincing way to obtain information on the 
immunological responses that are important for protection against malaria. Of course, the 
compelling need for a malaria vaccines and treatments needs to be balanced with the potential risks 
and discomforts of the volunteers. Explorative studies looking for new or complementary 
transmission blocking drugs or vaccines are of paramount importance with the potential of large-
scale application in endemic countries. These transmission-blocking interventions are considered 
essential tools to consolidate recent gains of malaria control in recent years and move towards 
malaria elimination. 
 
The study will be undertaken in accordance with Good Clinical Practices (GCP), according to the 
standards defined in the EEC directive 91/507/EEC, and in the Directive on Good Clinical Practice in 
Clinical Trials (ICH GCP, 75/318/EEC, January 1997) and under the principles of the Declaration of 
Helsinki; ethical permission will be sought from the CCMO the Netherlands and from the funding 
partner’s designated IRB, WIRB.. 
 
12.6. 
Compensation for injury 
The sponsor/investigator has a liability insurance which is in accordance with article 7 of the WMO. 
The sponsor (also) has an insurance which is in accordance with the legal requirements in the 
Netherlands (Article 7 WMO). This insurance provides cover for damage to research subjects through 
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1. € 650.000,-- (i.e. six hundred and fifty thousand Euro) for death or injury for each subject who 
participates in the research; 
2. € 5.000.000,-- (i.e. five million Euro) for death or injury for all subjects who participate in the 
research;  
3. € 7.500.000,-- (i.e. seven million five hundred thousand Euro) for the total damage incurred by 
the organisation for all damage disclosed by scientific research for the sponsor as ‘verrichter’ in 
the meaning of said Act in each year of insurance coverage. 
 
The insurance applies to the damage that becomes apparent during the study or within 4 years after 
the end of the study. 
 
12.7. 
Incentives 
Enrolled and challenged volunteers will receive up to 1900,- Euros in compensation for their time and 
for the inconveniences of taking part in this study. This is based on compensation fees for procedures 
as below: 
 
Inconvenience of blood tests and/or visits: 20,- Euros per blood sampling and/or visit 
 
Malaria challenge: 300,- Euros  
 
Illness and treatments compensation: 400,- Euros 
 
Direct Feeding Assays: 300,- Euros 
 
Compensation length of study: 20,- Euros per month 
 
Travel expenses will not be additionally reimbursed, and compensation will not be provided to 
volunteers who are not enrolled i.e. screen failures. Eligible volunteers who are enrolled at the 
inclusion visit as back-ups, but who are not challenged on Day 0 will be compensated 50,- Euros. 
These compensation amounts are reasonable and in line with Dutch common practice. In case of 
unexpected medical complications, there will be access to state-of-the-art medical treatment with 
full costs covered by the insurance of Radboudumc. 


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13. ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS, MONITORING AND PUBLICATION 
 
13.1. 
Handling and storage of data and documents 
13.1.1. Confidentiality 
All parties agree to adhere to the principles of medical confidentiality in relation to clinical study 
subjects involved in this trial, and shall not disclose the identity of subjects to third parties without 
prior written consent of the subject. 
All data will be anonymised; volunteer data will be identified by a unique study number in the CRF. 
Separate confidential files containing identifiable information will be stored in secured locations. All 
plasma samples, or other biological samples, with exception of those taken for safety diagnostics, will 
be labelled with the volunteer study identification number. Samples taken for safety diagnostic 
(processed by the central clinical laboratory of the Radboudumc) will be labelled with part of the 
subject identification code, study identification name and a fictitious birth date (only using the 
subjects actual birth year). The samples will not be labelled with volunteer names or actual birth 
dates. 
The subject identification code will be kept by the principal investigator.  
The investigator will maintain and retain appropriate medical and research records and essential 
documents for this trial in compliance with ICH GCP Guidelines, any regulatory requirements, and 
institutional requirements for the length of storage and for the protection of confidentiality of 
volunteers. The investigator will permit direct access to study records and source documents to 
authorized representatives of the sponsor, ethical committee(s) / institutional review board(s), 
regulatory agencies, authorised individuals from PATH, and the external monitor(s), for the purposes 
of quality assurance reviews, audits / inspections, and evaluation of the study safety and progress. 
Direct access includes examination, analysis, verification, and reproduction of de-identified records 
and reports that are important to the evaluation of the trial. Data and biological samples will be 
stored for 15 years. Biological samples from this study will be stored for 15 years for research related 
to malaria immunology and transmission dynamics. New immunological or molecular tests may 
become available in the future that could strengthen or validate this research or help find important 
new findings. Samples will only be used for malaria-related research. 
 
13.1.2. Data collection 
Designated trial staff will enter the data required by the protocol into the electronic CRF (eCRF). 
  
13.1.3. Database management and quality control 
All data should be recorded, handled and stored in a way that allows its accurate reporting, 
interpretation and verification. 
An external monitor will review the data entered into the eCRFs by investigational staff for 
completeness and accuracy and will instruct the site personnel to make any required corrections or 
additions. Queries are made during each monitoring visit. Designated investigator site staff are 
required to respond to the queries and confirm or correct the data. Medical history/current medical 
conditions and adverse events will be coded using the ICD-10 terminology. 
 
13.2. 
Monitoring and Quality Assurance  
Before study initiation, the protocol and eCRFs together with relevant SOPs will be reviewed by the 
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will visit the site to check the completeness of records, the accuracy of entries on the eCRFs, the 
adherence to the protocol and to Good Clinical Practice, the progress of enrolment, and to ensure 
that sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, piperaquine and Malarone® and are being dispensed and 
accounted for according to protocol.  
The investigator will maintain source documents for each subject in the study, consisting of case and 
visit notes containing demographic and medical information, laboratory data, electrocardiograms, 
subject’s diaries, and the results of any other tests or assessments. All information on eCRFs must be 
traceable to these source documents in the subject's file. The only exception is the data from the 
quantitative PCR, which is loaded from the PCR machine directly into the eCRF. As with all parts of 
the eCRF, there is an audit trail in place to register every data entry. The investigator will also keep 
the original informed consent form signed by the subject (a signed copy is given to the subject). 
The investigator will give the external monitor access to all relevant source documents to confirm 
their consistency with the eCRF entries. According to the NFU risk classification system, this clinical 
trial has been classified as ‘middle risk’. The monitor will perform full verification for the presence of 
informed consent, adherence to the inclusion/exclusion criteria and documentation of SAEs. The 
recording of data that will be used for all primary and safety variables will be assessed for 25% of 
included subjects (i.e. 8 subjects). 
 
13.3. 
Amendments  
Amendments are changes made to the research, and will only be made after favourable opinions / 
approvals by the CCMO and WIRB have been given - except where necessary to eliminate apparent 
immediate hazards to the subject(s). All amendments will be submitted to CCMO and WIRB for 
review and approval.  
 
13.4. 
Annual progress report 
The investigator will submit a summary of the progress of the trial to the CCMO once a year. 
Information will be provided on the date of inclusion of the first subject, numbers of subjects 
included and numbers of subjects that have completed the trial, serious adverse events/ serious 
adverse reactions, other problems, and amendments.  
Continuing review reports will be submitted to WIRB, in accordance with its reporting requirements. 
 
13.5. 
Temporary halt and (prematurely) end of study report 
The investigator will notify the CCMO of the end of the study within a period of 8 weeks. The end of 
the study is defined as the subject’s last visit on day 51 after the malaria challenge infection.  
The investigator will notify the CCMO immediately of a temporary halt of the study, including the 
reason of such an action. In case the study is ended prematurely, the investigator will notify the 
CCMO 
within 
15 
days, 
including 
the 
reasons 
for 
the 
premature 
termination. 
Within one year after the end of the study, the investigator will submit a final study report with the 
results of the study, including any publications/abstracts of the study, to the CCMO. 
PATH REC and WIRB will also be notified of any decisions to prematurely suspend or terminate the 
study, and a study closure report will be submitted to WIRB when all subjects have finished their final 
visits and follow-up and when the sponsor has indicated the study is closed. 
 


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13.6. 
Public disclosure and publication policy 
The final report will be prepared by the investigators at the Radboud university medical center. It will 
be signed by the project leader or the principal investigator. The investigators will make every effort 
to publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal. 


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14. STRUCTURED RISK ANALYSIS  
 
 
 
 
Controlled Human Malaria Infection 
14.1. 
Potential issues of concern 
In this study all volunteers undergo a Controlled Human Malaria Infection by the bites of 5 laboratory 
reared Anopheles mosquitoes infected with the 3D7 clone of Plasmodium falciparum or a blood stage 
challenge with 3D7 infected erythrocytes.  
 
a. Level of knowledge about mechanism of action 
The causative organisms of malaria, Plasmodium parasites, were first identified by Laveran in 1880 
and their complete life-cycle in the mammalian host was elucidated by 1947. Extensive clinical 
experience of malaria infection has since been accumulated by the medical community. 
Nevertheless, certain aspects of the pathophysiology of (severe) malaria (e.g. cerebral malaria) 
remain incompletely understood. Such manifestations, however, do not occur during Controlled 
Human Malaria Infections due to the very early treatment of study subjects and hence the clearance 
of parasitemia at extremely low levels (see also below). 
 
b. Previous exposure of human beings with the test product(s) and/or products with a similar 
biological mechanism 
There is extensive clinical experience with controlled human P. falciparum malaria infections by the 
bite of infected mosquitoes or a blood stage challenge with infected erythrocytes. Since 1986 more 
than 3,500 volunteers have had CHMI by the bites of mosquitoes fed on cultures of P. falciparum 
gametocytes to produce P. falciparum sporozoites or a blood stage challenge with infected 
erythrocytes. Worldwide the majority of these infections have been performed with the laboratory 
NF54 strain or its daughter clone 3D7. This has proved to be a reproducible, predictable and safe 
method of inducing P. falciparum infections. The results of such studies were summarized in 1997 
(11), in 2007 (29) and in 2011-2012 (88) (27). 
 
c. Can the primary or secondary mechanism be induced in animals and/or in ex-vivo human cell 
material? 
In vitro assays cannot capture the complexity of the multi-stage life-cycle of Plasmodium parasites 
and their complex of interaction with the host. Although (parts of) the Plasmodium life-cycle can be 
reproduced in (rodent or primate) animal models, these either involve non-human Plasmodium-
species or non-natural host-parasite combinations. As a result, extrapolation of pathophysiological 
and immunological aspects of infection to human disease are only possible to a limited extent (89, 
90). 
 
d. Selectivity of the mechanism to target tissue in animals and/or human beings 
The life-cycle of malaria parasites follows a fixed and pre-determined course in the human host, 
including migration of sporozoites from the skin to the liver sinusoids, intra-hepatic development, 
asexual multiplication and finally gametocytogenesis within erythrocytes. These developments are 
constrained by multiple parasite-host ligand interactions and the parasite’s ability to manipulate the 
host cell’s internal environment (91). 
 
 


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e. Analysis of potential effect 
Safety and tolerability of CHMI will be assessed by recording adverse events, reported at any time 
during the trial either at a visit or by writing in the diary. Temperature will be recorded at every visit 
following the CHMI. Assessment of complete blood count, LDH and troponin-T will be performed 
daily starting on day 4-6 after the CHMI. Assessment of liver and kidney function will be performed 
on multiple timepoints (see section 1.4 above) and at the end of study visit. Parasitemia in subjects 
undergoing CHMIs will never exceed ±0.001% (i.e. equivalent to 50 parasites/μL, the detection level 
of thick smear microscopy is ~5 parasites/μL). In contrast, manifestations of severe malaria generally 
only occur above 5% parasitemia and by definition never below 1% parasitemia (WHO Guideline 
Severe Malaria, SWAB Richtlijn). 
 
f. Pharmacokinetic considerations 
Not applicable. 
 
g. Study population 
Included subjects are healthy young adult volunteers, who have been extensively screened for any 
evidence of co-morbidity, in particular cardiovascular risk factors. Female subjects of child-bearing 
age are screened for pregnancy by urine test and are required to use contraception throughout the 
study period, as described in section 9. 
 
h. Interaction with other products 
Concurrent use of drugs potentially interacting with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (e.g trimpethoprim, 
trimethoprim-sulfonamide combinations, chloroquine, lorazepam, phenytoin, coumarin derivatives, 
folic acid antagonists), piperaquine (e.g. QTc-prolonging medication, strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, 
rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, St. 
John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)) and atovaquone-proguanil (e.g. artemether-lumefantrine, 
rifampicin, metoclopramide, oral anti-coagulants and certain anti-retrovirals) are contra-indicated.  
No adverse drug interactions have been described between piperaquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine 
and/or atovaquone-proguanil(92-95). Piperaquine has been combined with sulfadoxine-
pyrimethamine in clinical trials for intermittent preventive treatment and in CHMI-trans1, and is safe, 
well tolerated, and effective (96, 97).  
The relatively long half-life of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and, especially, piperaquine might 
potentially cause a low concentration of either of these drugs at the time of final Malarone® 
treatment. However, no adverse interactions between these drugs have been described nor are 
expected to occur in these doses (93-95, 98). Piperaquine is mainly metabolised by CYP3A4 and to a 
lesser extent by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. Piperaquine is an inhibitor of CYP3A4 (also in a time-
dependent manner) and to a lesser extent of CYP2C19, while it induced CYP2E1(95). In Malarone®, 
there is no evidence that atovaquone (the primary effective anti-malarial component) is metabolised 
and there is negligible excretion of atovaquone in urine with the parent drug being predominantly (> 
90%) eliminated unchanged in faeces. Proguanil hydrochloride is partially metabolised with less than 
40% being excreted unchanged in the urine. Proguanil is metabolized to cycloguanil (primarily via 
CYP2C19) and 4-chlorophenylbiguanide, and these are also excreted unchanged in the urine. 
Proguanil also has antimalarial activity independent of its metabolism to cycloguanil, and proguanil, 
but not cycloguanil, is able to potentiate the ability of atovaquone to collapse mitochondrial 
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doses, proguanil metabolism status appears to have no implications for treatment or prophylaxis of 
malaria(93). 
Therefore, it is highly unlikely that low concentration piperaquine would affect the effectivity or 
safety of Malarone® in treatment of malaria. 
 
i. Predictability of effect 
In this trial all volunteers will experience blood stage malaria infection. Blood stage malaria infection 
has been seen after CHMI in over 3,500 volunteers. The progression and symptoms of this 
parasitemia has been demonstrated to be reproducible and predictable (11, 29, 30). However, the 
occurrence of cardiac serious adverse events in Radboudumc CHMI trials has led to an increase in 
safety measures, discussed in a separate section below. 
 
j. Can effects be managed? 
Subjects are followed up intensively on an outpatient basis for clinical and parasitological assessment 
to ensure treatment is started at the earliest possible time point. The 3D7 P. falciparum clone has 
been tested for sensitivity to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, piperaquine and atovaquone-proguanil in 
vitro. Should treatment with this drug need to be discontinued prematurely in any subject for 
whatever other reason (e.g. intolerability), various other anti-malarial drugs are available, both oral 
and intravenous, to which this clone is also susceptible. 
 
14.2. 
Cardiac events following Controlled Human Malaria Infections 
In the twenty-three CHMI studies conducted at Radboudumc (involving 376 healthy volunteers), 
three cardiac events have occurred after infection with the NF54 strain with the confirmed or 
differential diagnosis of myocarditis. The occurrence of myocarditis in both natural uncomplicated 
malaria and CHMI has never been described elsewhere. However, the three cardiac events share no 
specific factor other than malaria infection.  
With regards to the malaria infection, these myocarditis cases do share a number characteristics: i) 
they took place 1-5 days after start of antimalarial treatment but different anti-malarial drugs were 
used in all cases ii) there was no parasitemia detectable at the time of the event, and iii) next to the 
P. falciparum infection, other and known possibly triggering factors (e.g. preceding vaccinations, 
concomitant infections, cannabis use) were present during or preceding the event. The three cases 
are discussed in detail below. 
 
Case 1 
In 2007 a 20 year old female was immunized with the candidate malaria vaccine, LSA3 
(NL14715.000.06), underwent a CHMI and was treated with artemether/lumefantrine (Riamet®) after 
a positive thick smear. She presented with retrosternal chest pain three days after treatment, blood 
slide was negative. Elevated troponin-I (maximally 11.80ug/l) and ECG abnormalities were suggestive 
for a cardiac event with minimal cardiac damage and an MRI showed no abnormalities. Risk factors 
for cardiac disease in this volunteer included an acute myocardial infarction in a paternal grandfather 
at age 43 and a paternal family history of dyslipidemia. The final diagnosis was acute coronary 
syndrome or myocarditis. This case is reported in (35), attachment K4a. Following this event, 
recommendations of the European Malaria Vaccine Development Association and the CCMO 
followed for improved safety of participating volunteers: 


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• 
Riamet® is no longer used as treatment during CHMIs at Radboudumc. Malarone® replaces 
it. 
• 
Individuals will be excluded from participation if they have 1st or 2nd degree relatives who 
had cardiac events when less than 50 years of age. 
• 
Volunteers will be required to stay very close to the Radboudumc to ensure maximal safety 
from day 5 after CHMI until treatment has been finished (maximum 12 days). 
• 
Monitoring of highly sensitive troponin T (hsTropT), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 
and thrombocytes. 
 
Case 2 
In 2013, a healthy male, taking part in the TIP5 clinical trial (NL39541.091.12) underwent a CHMI 
challenge after immunization with cyropreserved sporozoites under chloroquine prophylaxis (CPS 
protocol). Thick smear became positive after challenge infection and the volunteer was treated with 
atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone®). Per protocol blood examination revealed an elevated troponin-T 
(maximally 1115ng/l) on the second day of Malarone treatment, while the volunteer was 
asymptomatic. He was admitted to cardiology and troponin-T values, ECG abnormalities and a 
cardiac MRI confirmed the diagnosis acute myocarditis. During admission he experienced a 20 
minute episode of retrosternal chest pain. Further diagnostic tests and patient history revealed a 
concurrent rhinovirus infection and a boosting regime of standard travel vaccines 46 days preceding 
the CHMI, with a booster 20 days before the CHMI. This case has been reported in (36), attachment 
K4b. Due to this SAE, new safety recommendations were integrated into our procedures for CHMI. 
These include:  
• 
Exclusion of volunteers who took standard vaccinations within 3 months before the start of 
the trial or are planning to take standard vaccinations during the trial period up to 8 weeks 
after CHMI.  
• 
Increased control of hs troponin T as a marker of cardiac damage; initiation of treatment 
with Malarone when hs troponin T > 0.1 μg/ml or on recommendation of the cardiologist. 
• 
Continuation of daily LDH measurements starting from day 5 after CHMI; Malarone 
treatment will be initiated if LDH values are above 1000 U/L. 
• 
Daily measurements of thrombocytes; volunteers will be treated with Malarone when 
thrombocyte levels are < 120x 10^9/L.  
• 
After CHMI by sporozoite challenge we will rely on real-time qPCR for diagnosis of malaria 
and initiation of treatment, using the following criteria: 
o 
Two consecutive positive qPCR results in a volunteer with temperature <38.0⁰C  
o 
One positive qPCR result in a volunteer with temperature ≥38.0⁰C 
o 
One positive thick smear (which will be made if a volunteers attends for evening 
follow-up with temperature ≥38.0⁰C or on decision of the trial clinician) 
 
Case 3 
In 2014, a healthy, 23 year old, male volunteer underwent a CHMI under chloroquine prophylaxis 
(CPS-immunization). On day 10 after exposure to bites of 15 malaria infected mosquitoes, routine per 
protocol blood examinations revealed an elevated troponin-T (maximally 168ng/l) though the 
volunteer was asymptomatic. This volunteer had no obvious risk factors for cardiac disease other 
than cigarette smoking and recent cannabis use. This volunteer was negative by thick smear but 


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positive by PCR with maximum parasitemia was 1265Pf/ml while under chloroquine prophylaxis. 
Following this cardiac event, further safety measures have been integrated into our CHMI protocols: 
• 
Volunteers will be treated with antimalarial after a single positive qPCR after malaria 
challenge infection 
• 
Use of cannabis will be added as an exclusion criterion 
• 
Excessive physical exercise around immunization and during challenge period will be 
prohibited 
 
14.3. 
Transient liver function test derangements 
Transient, asymptomatic liver function derangements have been reported in volunteers in previous 
CHMI studies, and are likely to be related to the challenge infection (Reuling et al. manuscript in 
preparation). A retrospective analysis of 13 CHMI studies conducted in the Radboudumc showed that 
72/120 (60%) of the volunteers that were treated at thick smear parasitemia levels have mild (38%), 
moderate (10%) or severe (12%) increases of liver transaminases (ALT/AST). The liver function test 
(LFT) elevations remained asymptomatic in all the affected volunteers, and are typically not 
associated with bilirubin changes. Detailed analysis on the LFT elevations pattern showed that these 
elevations exceeded the upper limit of normal (ULN) around the day of treatment with antimalarials 
to 2 days after treatment. The peak LFTs elevations are found between 2-14 days after treatment 
with values normalized at study end (35–42 days after challenge infection). In some volunteers, the 
elevations were also found associated with lactate dehydrogenase, suggesting that associated sub-
clinical haemolysis might have been present during challenge.  
Volunteers treated based on qPCR threshold of 100 Pf/mL showed a lower percentage, and severity 
of LFT abnormalities. 13/58 volunteers (22%) showed LFT derangements, with 11/58 (19%) mild, 
1/58 (2%) moderate, and 1/58 (2%) severe abnormalities. Importantly, all volunteers showed 
normalized values at study end. 
A clear explanation for the transient elevated transaminases in our CHMI studies is not obvious. 
Although higher parasitemia associates with higher chances of LFT elevations on group level, there is 
no clear relationship on individual levels. Given the diversity of drug regimens used, it also seems 
unlikely to be directly related to anti-malarials. Similarly, the timing, differential, and limited use of 
paracetamol does not support a clear relationship. Rather a combination of the above mentioned 
factors, and individual susceptibility may have triggered the observed abnormalities. 
Following an independent review of the safety committee, and a hepatology expert, it was concluded 
that these transient asymptomatic and severe LFT elevations are most likely a direct consequence of 
the malaria infection rather than reflecting a direct drug-induced liver injury caused by the 
antimalarial drug or other liver noxe. Given the rapid and spontaneous resolution of the observations 
and the absence of significantly elevated bilirubin these events were judged to not cause permanent 
subclinical liver damage, and to not preclude further studies utilising Plasmodium falciparum 
challenge.  
 
As a result of the LFT elevations our safety procedures for CHMI have been intensified. In the current 
trial, we will adhere to those stringent procedures that are relevant, including: 
1. Exclusion of subjects with abnormal ALT/AST values on baseline  
2. Upon inclusion: Avoid additional triggers that may cause ALT/AST elevations  
a. Alcohol intake from baseline up to 1 week post-treatment (T3)  
b. Heavy physical exercise  


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c. Recreational drug use  
d. >3 grams/ day of paracetamol/acetaminophen  
3. Standard monitoring of LFT at day* C-1; C+6; C+8; C+10; T; T+2; T+4; T+6; EOS  
4. Initiation of subcurative anti-malarial treatment at ALT/AST levels >2.5xULN (prior T1)  
5. Initiation of a curative anti-malarial treatment at ALT/AST levels >5x ULN (prior T1)  
*C = challenge; T = day of treatment 1,2, and 3; EOS = end of study 
 
14.4. 
Transient serum creatinine elevations 
Transient, asymptomatic increases in serum creatinine compared to baseline (though within normal 
limits) have also been found during CHMI in the Radboudumc. A retrospective analysis of 5 CHMI 
studies showed a small increase of creatinin, relative to the subject’s own baseline (but within the 
accepted range of normal), in 70/80 (88%) of the subjects. Only 5/80 (5%) showed mild elevations 
above the upper limit of normal 2 days after treatment. No moderate or severe elevations have been 
found. No difference in serum creatinine was found between subjects that were treated based on 
thick smear threshold or qPCR threshold. All subjects showed normalized values at the end of the 
study. An independent nephrology expert did not consider the transient decrease in renal function as 
a particular risk for permanent kidney damage.  
 
Based on these findings the CHMI protocol has been adapted to: 
• Exclude subjects with abnormal renal function at baseline. 
• Avoid additional triggers that may cause renal dysfunction, such as: 
o 
Alcohol intake from baseline up to 1 week post-treatment (T3) 
o 
Heavy physical exercise 
o 
Use of recreational drugs 
• Add standard monitoring of renal function at specific time points after CHMI 
 
14.5. 
Risk management of reaction to the blood stage inoculum sample 
The injection of P. falciparum 3D7 Master Cell Bank (MCB) inoculum contains a small number of red 
blood cells (between ~3.9x10^6 and 5.2x10^8) derived from the original donor. One mL of blood 
contains about 5 billion red cells. Thus, the prepared challenge inoculum would contain an extremely 
small amount of blood. The donor of the P. falciparum 3D7 MCB is also Blood Group O (Rh) negative 
and people with blood group O- blood are generally considered "universal donors", as recipients of 
their blood have minimal risk of developing red cell alloantibodies when given much larger volumes 
of blood than is envisaged here. The risk for development of red cell antibodies in this study is 
considered extremely low. However, it is possible that some of the volunteers could suffer a 
transfusion reaction after they receive the inoculum, or develop antibodies to the donor red blood 
cells that may make blood transfusion more difficult in the future. In a recently completed study (99), 
one volunteer developed an antibody response to a minor RH antigen (anti-E antibody) following the 
inoculation. Such allo-reactive antibodies have rarely been implicated in hemolytic transfusion 
reactions. There was no laboratory evidence to indicate that the specific Rh phenotype of the donor 
red cells in the inoculum provoked production of this allo anti-E antibody. Alloantibodies conversion 
following the inoculation has not been recorded in any of the other P. falciparum 3D7 MCB inoculum 
recipients. The onset of ‘Natural’ anti-E antibodies has also been described unrelated to transfusion. 
Nevertheless, the challenged volunteers will continue to be monitored after the administration of 
the inoculum to further assess the risk of this inoculum in causing transfusion reaction. Volunteers of 


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cohort B will also be tested for RBC alloantibodies at screening and at the end of the study as part of 
their safety monitoring. WOCBP will receive matched donor blood, i.e. Rh(c) and/or Rh(e) negative 
women will be excluded to participate in Cohort B, since the donor blood is Group O (Rh)D Negative ; 
C negative; E negative ; c positive ; e positive i.e. rr and  Kell negative. Furthermore, participants with 
a history of blood transfusion are excluded to participate in these groups (section 9.3.17).  
 
14.6. 
Synthesis 
There is a large clinical experience with infecting humans by the bite of P. falciparum-infected 
mosquitoes and -infected erythrocytes. Since 1986 more than 3,500 volunteers have had CHMI by 
the bites of mosquitoes fed on cultures of P. falciparum gametocytes to produce sporozoites (28). 
This has proved to be a reproducible, predictable and safe method of inducing P. falciparum malaria. 
The results of such studies were summarized in 1997 (11), in 2007 (29) and in 2011 (30) (69). 
Following three cardiac events after blood stage parasitemia, our safety procedures for CHMI have 
been strongly intensified. In the current trial, we will use a 3D7 clone and adhere to those stringent 
procedures that are relevant, see section 1.4. 
 
 


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16. APPENDICES 
16.1. 
Appendix 1 
 
Clinical Score for Malaria (Appendix 1) 
 
Clinical Score 
Symptom 
Clinical Score  
0 - Absent, 1 - Mild, 2 - Moderate, 3 – Severe 
Headache 
 
Myalgia (muscle ache) 
 
Arthralgia (joint ache) 
 
Fatigue/lethargy 
 
Malaise (general discomfort/uneasiness) 
 
Chills/shivering/rigors 
 
Sweating/hot spells 
 
Anorexia 
 
Nausea 
 
Vomiting 
 
Abdominal discomfort 
 
Fever 
 
TOTAL SCORE 
 
 
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