FDA Approves New Treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a growing public health threat worldwide. Sirturo, also known as bedaquiline, is the first drug in a new class that targets the disease in a different way than current treatments. This approval is a significant milestone in the fight against tuberculosis, a highly infectious disease that affects millions worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• The FDA has approved Sirturo, a new treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, which is a serious public health threat worldwide.
• Sirturo, also known as bedaquiline, is the first drug in a new class that attacks tuberculosis in a different way than current treatments.
• Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a growing problem, with 12 million people worldwide having tuberculosis in 2011, and 630,000 having multidrug-resistant TB.
• Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis can take years and cost 200 times as much as treating the ordinary form of the disease.
• Sirturo works by inhibiting an enzyme needed by the tuberculosis bacteria to replicate and spread throughout the body.
• The FDA has issued caution regarding the use of Sirturo, emphasizing that it should be used only in patients who have no other treatment options due to its significant risks.

Statistics:

• 12 million people worldwide had tuberculosis in 2011.
• 630,000 people had multidrug-resistant TB in 2011.
• Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis can cost 200 times as much as treating the ordinary form of the disease.
• 44% of patients with tuberculosis in countries like Peru, Russia, and Thailand showed resistance to at least one second-line drug.

Sources:

• Johnson & Johnson
• The Lancet (September study)
• US Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) press statement
• Janssen, the pharmaceutical unit of Johnson & Johnson