The SNIP-AFRICA General Assembly meeting was held from 27-28 March 2025 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, bringing together representatives from 12 institutions across Africa and Europe, delegates from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Shionogi and the African Neonatal Association.
This Penta-led African-European collaboration aims to establish a clinical research network to tackle questions around antibiotic management of neonatal sepsis in Africa, in a time of rising antimicrobial resistance. Using an innovative approach, SNIP-AFRICA is looking to improve the way severe infections in newborns are treated.
As the project progresses, the discussions at the assembly set an optimistic tone for the future. A key milestone is the upcoming launch of the NeoSep1 trial in Africa, set to commence in April 2025. With site initiation visits performed in January 2025, the first two South African sites (Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg) are ready to kick off trial activities, followed by six additional sites across Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. NeoSep1 is a groundbreaking clinical trial utilising an innovative design to empirically compare multiple antibiotic regimens, with the goal of identifying the most effective antibiotic treatments for neonatal sepsis. Findings from this trial hold the potential to inform future World Health Organization guidelines on neonatal sepsis management.
Beyond NeoSep1, significant advancements have been made across several key areas. A robust surveillance system was established in five African countries to monitor neonatal infections, antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use, providing critical insights into the management of sepsis in newborns. The pharmacokinetics team developed standardised templates for neonatal antimicrobial PK studies, and the PRECISION study has already begun enrolling infants to optimise colistin dosing.
Stakeholder engagement has been strong, with inclusive discussions involving regulators, healthcare professionals, and parent groups, focusing on understanding barriers and facilitators to the successful implementation of complex trials in newborns. Finally, the launch of the SNIP-AFRICA Training and Capacity Building platform marks a major step in equipping clinical site staff with important skills for managing neonatal sepsis and neonatal clinical trials, with plans for future curriculum expansion based on participant feedback.
Overall, the General Assembly was a great success. Partners left the meeting feeling energised and optimistic about the contribution that the SNIP-AFRICA project can make in the management of sepsis in newborns in Africa – a much-needed initiative given the urgent challenges surrounding neonatal infections and antimicrobial resistance in the continent.
Read the press release by Penta and Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania, who hosted the General Assembly.