Candidate anti-tuberculosis medicines and regimens under clinical evaluation

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of mortality by an infectious disease worldwide. Despite national and international efforts, the world is not on track to end TB by 2030. Antibiotic treatment of TB is longer than for most infectious diseases and is complicated by frequent adverse events. To counter emerging Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance and provide effective, safe drug treatments of shorter duration, novel anti-TB medicines, and treatment regimens are needed. Through a joint global effort, more candidate medicines are in the clinical phases of drug development than ever before.

Objectives: To review anti-TB medicines and treatment regimens under clinical evaluation for the future treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB.

Sources: Pre-clinical and clinical studies on novel anti-TB drugs.

Content: Description of novel protein synthesis inhibitors (oxazolidinones and oxaboroles), respiratory chain inhibitors (diarylquinolines and cytochrome bc1 complex inhibitor), cell wall inhibitors (decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2'-epimerase, inhibitors, thioamides, and carbapenems), and cholesterol metabolism inhibitor currently evaluated in clinical trials and novel clinical trial platforms for the evaluation of treatment regimens, rather than single entities.

Implications: A large number of potential anti-TB candidate medicines and innovations in clinical trial design for the evaluation of regimens, rather than single medicines, provide hope for improvements in the treatment of TB.

Keywords: Clinical trials; Drug classes; Platform trials; TB; UNITE4TB.