New TB Treatments on the Horizon

The Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015 includes strategic commitment to “… promote research for the development of new drugs...” This presentation explores the status of new drug development for TB. Without drugs that are faster and cheaper than currently used first line and drug resistant TB medicines, we are unlikely to achieve the Global Plan's goals. Drug regimens designed over 50 years ago are still standard treatment for TB. If taken properly, they're effective. But considering many pills are required for extensive periods—six to nine months—treatment failure risks abound. Even if a patient is willing to adhere perfectly to their regimen, failures in management of these essential medicines, often resulting in stock-outs, thwart patients' good intentions. Availability of fixed dose combinations partially addresses one treatment barrier. But lengthy treatment duration remains.

The future of TB control requires development of treatment regimens that are short, easy to administer, low in cost, and that are well-managed. Stop TB's Working Group on New TB Drugs and the TB Alliance are actively addressing the need for new TB drugs. Currently, there are ten new drugs designed to control TB in the clinical development pipeline. The most promising include: a diarylquinolone, TMC-207 (for MDR-TB); nitroimidazoles, such as PA-824 and OPC-67683 (for latent, first line and drug resistant TB treatment); and moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin (to shorten treatment).

These medications could push TB treatment and control in the right direction, if sufficient attention, funding, and support are sustained.