About this trial
The Investigator hypothesize that the treatment efficacy will be similar in both study arms. Secondary outcomes and endpoints will characterize safety by comparing adverse events (AEs), tolerability, and adherence to therapy in each arm.
This is a Phase 4, open-label, multicenter trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single injected dose of intramuscular (IM) BPG (Arm 1) compared to oral amoxicillin administered twice daily (BID) for 10 days (Arm 2). The study will involve infants aged ≤ 30 days old with suspected untreated syphilis. The trial will be conducted at 12 sites across the U.S., enrolling approximately 374 participants.
Upon randomization, participants will undergo baseline study sample collection (blood, oropharyngeal, and nasal mucosal swabs for PCR testing) and then receive either treatment with oral amoxicillin or IM BPG, both with directly observed therapy. The participant enrolled in the optional pharmacokinetic (PK) sub-study will have additional blood samples collected for PK analysis within the first 24-48 hours after treatment. Participants will be discharged from the hospital following routine procedures, with the oral amoxicillin dosing continued at home (BID) by the caregiver.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Confirmed staged maternal syphilis in pregnancy with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) + and T. pallidum hemagglutination antibody (TPHA) or other evidence of active syphilis (i.e. ulcerative anogenital lesion with positive darkfield microscopy or PCR+ for T. pallidum)
Inadequate therapy (non-BPG regimen, incomplete regimen for stage, <30 days prior to delivery), undocumented therapy, or lack of maternal syphilis therapy in pregnancy
Infant age ≤ 30 days old
Gestational age at birth ≥35 weeks
Disqualifiers
Infant receipt of antibiotics between birth and enrollment with activity against T. pallidum (including beta-lactam, cephalosporin, or azithromycin)
Uncontrolled maternal HIV (viral load >1000 copies/mL at or within 4 weeks of delivery) or HIV-exposed infants who require three drug antiretroviral post exposure prophylaxis.
Unable to ensure infant follow up through six months of age
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Benzathine Penicillin
- Amoxicillin
Treatment groups
Locations
Sponsors and collaborators
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lead sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Collaborator