GARDP’s phase 3 clinical trial of a first-in-class oral antibiotic to treat uncomplicated gonorrhoea was carried out in 16 sites across five countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand and the U.S. For people working on the trial across the world, it’s been a challenging but very rewarding experience, culminating in positive top-line study results and the prospect of a new treatment for gonorrhoea.  In the earlier days of the trial, we joined one of the study teams as they went about their work in Masiphumelele, a community near the southernmost tip of Cape Town.

 

Yamkelani Simkuhle from the Desmond Tutu Health Centre heads out into the community of Masiphumelele in Cape Town. Her role is to recruit participants for the zoliflodacin trial. “I go up and down the streets here. It’s good to meet and chat with people and let them know about the trial and the importance of getting treated for gonorrhoea. It’s also vital to retain people in the trial, so we often do follow-up visits.”

 

Masiphumelele is an IsiXhosa word that means “Let us succeed”. The poverty level is high here, but the people are resilient.

 

Women are adversely affected by gonorrhoea. If left untreated, gonorrhoea can cause infertility, life-threatening ectopic pregnancies and pelvic inflammatory disease. It also increases the risk of HIV infection.

 

Doctor, Chido Ponde, meets a patient before taking samples for testing.
“We try to make people feel at ease. It is important to be empathetic and understanding and help people feel comfortable about sharing sensitive issues with us.”

 

“The zoliflodacin trial has an opportunity to make a huge difference in the way gonorrhoea is treated, not only in South Africa, but globally. I’m pretty excited about that.” Junior medical officer, Dr Chido Ponde

 

Laboratory manager, Karabo Mahlangu, ensures that records are kept and that samples are safely stored. “Everything needs to be done properly and with care,” she says.

 

The samples are sent to a central laboratory for testing.

 

Site Director at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Katherine Gill, is the Principal Investigator of the trial in this community where one in ten people have gonorrhoea. “Zoliflodacin could be a game-changer in the future. We don’t have antibiotic resistance here yet, but it could happen anytime. We need other options. What’s great about zoliflodacin is that it is an oral drug that only needs to be taken once. It will make it so much easier to treat patients as it doesn’t have to be injected, like the drug we are using now.”

 

The team at the Desmond Tutu Health Centre in Masiphumelele in Cape Town is a close-knit group, working together to make a difference in the lives of others.