Phase 2 trial of WR6026, an orally administered 8-aminoquinoline, in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania chagasi

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2001 Dec;65(6):685-9. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.685.

Abstract

There are no recognized orally administered treatments for any of the leishmaniases. The 8-aminoquinoline WR6026 is an orally administered analog of primaquine that cured 50% of patients with kala-azar in Kenya at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 28 days. A further phase 2, open-label, dose-escalating safety and efficacy study was performed for kala-azar in Brazil. Cure rates for Brazilian patients treated for 28 days were as follows: 1 mg/kg/day: 0 of 4 (0%); 1.5 mg/kg/day: 1 of 6 (17%); 2.0 mg/kg/day: 4 of 6 (67%); 2.5 mg/kg/day: 1 of 5 (20%); and 3.25 mg/kg/day: 0 of 1 (0%). Nephrotoxicity that was not anticipated from preclinical animal studies or from phase 1 studies was seen at 2.5 mg/kg/day in 2 patients and in the single patient administered 3.25 mg/kg/day. WR6026 demonstrated the unusual clinical features of lack of increased efficacy against Brazilian kala-azar with increased dosing above 2 mg/kg/day and toxicity that was not present in previous investigations.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aminoquinolines / administration & dosage*
  • Aminoquinolines / adverse effects
  • Aminoquinolines / blood
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / blood
  • Child
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / chemically induced
  • Leishmania / isolation & purification
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • 8-aminoquinoline