A library of clinical efficacy studies at your fingertips

The WWARN Clinical Group is launching a new Literature Review Resource that consolidates 1,114 clinical efficacy studies completed and published since 1960 into one single library. The resource also provides a more detailed analysis of 903 (81%) studies presented as a short overview of key publication trends based on the frequency, publishing lead times, parasite species and the geographic location of trials. 

The publication library provides a comprehensive list of P. vivax clinical trials including details of the recruitment periods, the drugs monitored and the number of days in which patient responses were monitored after drug treatment (‘follow up days’). The downloadable excel format enables you to identify variations in study design and methodologies. You can also identify gaps and opportunities for further research studies.

The overview presents a number of graphs and maps displaying highlights from the publication analysis. In 2010, research into the global, regional and national causes of mortality revealed that malaria is still claiming an estimated 564,000 lives or 7.4% of all child deaths under 5 years of age (1). Our literature review highlights that over the last 50 years only half of the clinical studies conducted enrolled children under 5 years old, despite this age group facing the greatest risk of contracting malaria.

The results also provide evidence of adherence to current WHO guidelines on therapeutic efficacy studies. For example, if we take a closer look at the follow-up days they reveal a noticeable decline in studies with short follow up (less than14 days) from 25% of studies in the 1980s and 1990s, to less than 3% in the last five years.  

This publication reference library forms the basis for a series of focused literature reviews. Read on to discover an analysis of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) and parasite clearance rates.

Download the publication library and share your feedback on the value of the resource and your ideas to update and improve the library.