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The ERASE-TB study will assess the potential of innovative approaches to detect early signs of active TB disease.

Early detection of TB

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TB is responsible for almost 1.5 million deaths every year, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for around a third of them. A major challenge globally is the detection of infection – an estimated 4 million cases go undiagnosed each year, hampering control efforts.

Late diagnosis can lead to additional lung damage, with long-term consequences for patients’ respiratory health, and creates further opportunities for the spread of infection. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that TB infection occurs along a clinical continuum, as low-level sub-clinical infection gradually develops into a more clinically serious and infectious state. Being able to track this transition would provide more opportunities for early intervention.

The challenge

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The ERASE-TB study aims to explore the potential of new molecular approaches to detect early signs of clinical TB. Distinctive gene activity signatures have been identified that correlate with the transition to active disease. However, they are not yet specific enough to be used in clinical practice, as they generate too many false positives.

The ERASE-TB study is simultaneously assessing ten of the most promising candidate tests for identifying incipient TB. The tests encompass a range of detection technologies, assessing immunological, gene transcription and protein markers, as well as automated image processing and analysis of metabolites in urine.

Their performance will be evaluated and compared in more than 2,000 heavily exposed household contacts of people living with TB, who are at high risk of contracting a TB infection and progressing to TB disease. This approach will ensure that the precise timing of TB infection can be determined, so that the precision of diagnostic validation can be enhanced. A biobank of samples will also be created to support the evaluation of future tests.

Based on the data collected, the study team will also develop algorithms to identify the combination of tests that provide the best performance.

The project

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The ERASE-TB project will generate, in a single study, key evidence on multiple potential TB biomarker technologies – a highly efficient way of generating high-quality comparative data. It will also enable the performance of combinations of tests to be assessed. By including commercial and academic test developers in the project team, the study will also have rapid impact on test development. Ultimately, it should accelerate the development of tests filling a key gap in TB diagnosis and facilitate regional and global TB control efforts.

Impact

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crucial in

widening African

children’s access

to antiretrovirals

Bringing antiretroviral drugs to children

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The CHAPAS trials have ensured that many more children with HIV have benefited
from life-saving antiretrovirals.

EDCTP portfolio: HIV & HIV-associated infections

The challenge

TB is responsible for almost 1.5 million deaths every year, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for around a third of them. A major challenge globally is the detection of infection – an estimated 4 million cases go undiagnosed each year, hampering control efforts.

Late diagnosis can lead to additional lung damage, with long-term consequences for patients’ respiratory health, and creates further opportunities for the spread of infection. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that TB infection occurs along a clinical continuum, as low-level sub-clinical infection gradually develops into a more clinically serious and infectious state. Being able to track this transition would provide more opportunities for early intervention.

watermark

The ERASE-TB study aims to explore the potential of new molecular approaches to detect early signs of clinical TB. Distinctive gene activity signatures have been identified that correlate with the transition to active disease. However, they are not yet specific enough to be used in clinical practice, as they generate too many false positives.

The ERASE-TB study is simultaneously assessing ten of the most promising candidate tests for identifying incipient TB. The tests encompass a range of detection technologies, assessing immunological, gene transcription and protein markers, as well as automated image processing and analysis of metabolites in urine.

Their performance will be evaluated and compared in more than 2,000 heavily exposed household contacts of people living with TB, who are at high risk of contracting a TB infection and progressing to TB disease. This approach will ensure that the precise timing of TB infection can be determined, so that the precision of diagnostic validation can be enhanced. A biobank of samples will also be created to support the evaluation of future tests.

Based on the data collected, the study team will also develop algorithms to identify the combination of tests that provide the best performance.

The project

The later CHAPAS-3 trial compared the efficacy and safety of three fixed-dose combinations including two without stavudine (found to have some long-term side effects in adults, leading to a recommendation that its use be discontinued in children). The trial the first of its kind in Africa studied nearly 500 children at four sites in two African countries.

The ERASE-TB project will generate, in a single study, key evidence on multiple potential TB biomarker technologies – a highly efficient way of generating high-quality comparative data. It will also enable the performance of combinations of tests to be assessed. By including commercial and academic test developers in the project team, the study will also have rapid impact on test development. Ultimately, it should accelerate the development of tests filling a key gap in TB diagnosis and facilitate regional and global TB control efforts.

ratios forfixed-dose combinations and on appropriatedosage according to weight. 

The CHAPAS-3 trial confirmed the effectiveness of fixed-dose combinations, providing further impetus to the rollout of antiretrovirals to children. Its evidence on abacavir informed the WHO recommendation of abacavir-containing combinations for first-line therapy in children. Trial data have also been used to support applications for regulatory approval for new scored efavirenz tablets.

Impact

L’homme RF et al. Nevirapine, stavudine and lamivudine pharmacokinetics in African children on paediatric fixed-dose combination tablets. AIDS. 2008;22(5):557–65.

Mulenga V et al. Abacavir, zidovudine, or stavudine as paediatric tablets for African HIVinfected children (CHAPAS-3): an open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(2):169–79.

WHO. Guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach. 2010.

WHO. Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs
for treating and preventing

HIV infection: Recommendations for a public health approach
(second edition). 2016

Projects: Children with HIV in Africa Pharmacokinetics and Adherence of Simple Antiretroviral Regimens (CHAPAS): CHAPAS-1 and -3

Project lead: Professor Chifumbe Chintu, University Teaching Hospital, Zambia (CHAPAS-1); Dr Veronica Mulenga, University Teaching Hospital, Zambia (CHAPAS-3)

Target population(s): Children with HIV

Sample size: 71 (CHAPAS-1); 480 (CHAPAS-3)

Countries involved: Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Zambia (CHAPAS-1); Uganda, Zambia (CHAPAS-3)

Project duration: 2005–2009 (CHAPAS-1); 2010 –2011 (CHAPAS-3)

EDCTP funding: €1.2M (CHAPAS-1); €4.6M (CHAPAS-3)

Total project funding: €1.2M (CHAPAS-1); €5.0M