RecruitingPhase 4

Moxidectin Versus Ivermectin as Mass Drug Administration for the Control of Onchocerciasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases

Angola52,000 participantsStarted 2025-08-04

Plain-language summary

This clinical trial compares two treatments - ivermectin and moxidectin - to learn which is better at reducing the proportion of people with onchocerciasis (river blindness) when given through mass drug administration (MDA) in Angola. Both drugs are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat this disease. The study also explores how these treatments affect other infections common in the region, including intestinal worms (soil-transmitted helminths) and scabies. The trial aims to answer the following key questions: * How do moxidectin and ivermectin compare in reducing the prevalence (how common the disease is) and intensity (amount of parasites per person) of onchocerciasis in the community? * Do the treatments differ in their effect on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths and the prevalence of scabies? * Does moxidectin reduce transmission of onchocerciasis more effectively than ivermectin, based on genetic testing of parasites in people and lab testing of the blackflies that carry the infection? * How many more years of treatment would be needed to reach elimination with each drug, based on mathematical disease modelling? * How do communities feel about receiving moxidectin versus ivermectin, and what factors help or make it harder to carry out MDA programs with moxidectin versus ivermectin? The study takes place in Bié Province, Angola, and involves 20 groups of villages randomly assigned to receive either moxidectin or ivermectin once a year for four years. Prior to every round of MDA, researchers will collect skin, stool and blood samples from a sample of the people living in the study area. We believe the results will help guide global policy on the use of moxidectin in efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis and control related diseases.

Who can participate

Age range

5 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female children and adults * Residents in the villages selected for MDA treatment Exclusion Criteria: * Arm 1 (ivermectin): children under the age of 5 and/or under 90 cm of height * Arm 2 (moxidectin): children under the age of 12 years (who will receive ivermectin if they are at least 90 cm in height/5 years of age and above). * Arm 1 (ivermectin): Women breast-feeding babies under 45 days of age * Arm 2 (moxidectin): All breastfeeding women (who will be offered ivermectin if their infants is at least 45 days old) * Know allergy to ivermectin or moxidectin * Attending other clinical trials during the study * Pregnant * Arm 2 (moxidectin): Women planning to become pregnant in the 3 months post-treatment * Refusal to receive one or both study drugs, i.e. participants in villages allocated to receive moxidectin who refuse to receive moxidectin will be given the option to receive ivermectin; if they refuse to receive both drugs they will be excluded from the MDA altogether * Has an illness that makes them too sick or weak to get out of bed * Currently hospitalized

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae

Timeframe: 36 months after the first intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07145736

SponsorKirby Institute

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-03-31

Contact for this trial

Susana V Nery, PhD

+61467076047 snery@kirby.unsw.edu.au

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Onchocerciasis trials