Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Levamisole in Loa Loa Microfilaremic Patients

Randomized Clinical Trial, Double-blind, Dose-escalating of Drug Intensities, Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Levamisole in Loa Loa Microfilaremic Patients

This study aims at evaluating the safety and efficacy of levamisole in patients with loiasis infection.

This clinical trial will be conducted in Republic of Congo. This is a pragmatic and adaptative randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Levamisole will be tested at 1 and 1,5 mg/kg, and compared to placebo (36:36:36); or 2,5 mg/kg compared to placebo (36:36) in case of adaptation of the dose for cohorts II and III.

We will perform three cohorts of patients according to the microfilarial density : 1-1,999 mf/ml, 1-14,999 mf/ml, and all microfilaremic individuals; in order to respect the safety potentially related to loiasis.

The first cohort was to evaluate the most appropriate dose of levamisole, with a possibility to increase (to 2.5 mg/kg) the dose of levamisole for the cohorts II and III in case of lack of efficacy and in case of good safety profil.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written consent written, signed (or with thumbprint) and dated
• Aged 18 to 65 inclusive
• Individual microfilarial density ≥ 1mf/mL
• Body weight ≥ 40 kg in women and ≥ 45 kg in men; and less than 85 kg
• In good health condition, as determined by the medical questionnaire and the general clinical examination: absence of acute or chronic infection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in any study other than purely observational, in the 4 weeks preceding this study (determined by the theoretical date of administration of LEV or placebo).
• Any vaccination in the 4 weeks preceding this study.
• Acute infection requiring a treatment in the 10 days preceding this study, determined by the anamnesis during the medical interview (example: pulmonary infection, ENT, digestive, cutaneous, with implementation of an antibiotic treatment or not)
• Warfarin treatment
• Treatment with clozapine, phenythiazines, sulfasalazine, carbamazepine, synthetic antithyroid, ticlopidine, cimetidine, and gold salts: whether it is a long-term treatment, or a treatment given in a single dose 10 days before the start of treatment for the clinical trial (precaution of use compared to the risk of agranulocytosis of immuno-allergic or toxic origin)
• Known immunosuppressive pathology
• Past or current history of neurological (including epilepsy) or neuropsychiatric disease
• History of agranulocytosis
• Consumption of alcohol, taking cocaine or other drugs of abuse in the 72 hours preceding the administration of the treatment of the test determined by the anamnesis during the medical interview
• Any condition, in the opinion of the investigator, which exposes the subject to an undue risk
• Known intolerance to levamisole
• Subjects who gave blood in the 8 weeks before entry into the study, with a standard volume (> 500 mL)
• During the clinical examination: symptoms, physical signs or biological constants suggestive of systemic disorders, including renal, hepatic, cardiovascular, pulmonary, cutaneous, immunodeficiency, psychiatric disorders and other abnormalities likely to interfere with the interpretation results of the test. The doctor may then give a favorable or unfavorable opinion for the inclusion of the participant
• Taking IVM and / or LEV during the last six months; and / or mebendazole or albendazole in the last month
• Pregnant and lactating women (based on self-declaration)