Pretomanid: XDR-TB may soon become easily treatable

Though the total number of people with XDR-TB and treatment intolerant or non-responsive MDR-TB who will require the new anti-TB drug Pretomanid may not be high, these are people who have very little alternative treatment options that are both safe and efficacious. Unlike in the case of bedaquiline, pretomanid might become affordable. The anti-tuberculosis drug … Continue reading Pretomanid: XDR-TB may soon become easily treatable

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Explainer: What makes the new drug-resistant TB medicine Pretomanid promising

When used in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid, the newly approved pretomanid drug for MDR-TB and XDR-TB had an overall treatment success rate of about 90%. Besides better effectiveness, the duration of treatment is just six months. Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis — multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) — got a shot in the … Continue reading Explainer: What makes the new drug-resistant TB medicine Pretomanid promising

‘Child-friendly paediatric TB drugs will be a game changer’

Treating young children afflicted with drug-sensitive TB disease will no longer be the same. After years of neglect, the availability of flavoured, easily dissolvable first-line TB drugs in correct doses marks a watershed moment as the special needs of these children will be met. The tablets, which are a combination of two and more medicines … Continue reading ‘Child-friendly paediatric TB drugs will be a game changer’

Child-friendly TB drugs launched

For the first time, child-friendly TB drugs for first-line medication in a fixed-dose combination was launched by TB Alliance, UNITAID and WHO at the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday. These drugs, which meet the WHO’s revised dosage guidelines of 2010, are meant for children weighing less … Continue reading Child-friendly TB drugs launched

PaMZ drug combination is a game changer for TB and MDR-TB treatment

A novel drug combination (PaMZ) designed to treat both drug-sensitive and MDR-TB, including those who are HIV positive, is advancing to the crucial Phase III human clinical trial. If all goes well, the three-drug combination therapy will be a game changer for tuberculosis treatment. Among other things, the less toxic regimen cuts down the duration … Continue reading PaMZ drug combination is a game changer for TB and MDR-TB treatment

Child-friendly, first-line TB combination drugs will be available in 2016: Dr. Mel Spigelman

Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts in tuberculosis and TB drug development. He was instrumental in forging key organisational partnerships and building the pipeline of TB drug candidates when he was the Director of … Continue reading Child-friendly, first-line TB combination drugs will be available in 2016: Dr. Mel Spigelman