The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) has announced the launch of the first clinical trial to test a novel tuberculosis regimen designed to speed new treatments to patients.
This novel three-drug combination has shown promise to treat both drug-sensitive (DS-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
This Phase II trial, called NC001 or New Combination 1, will test new TB drug candidates PA-824 and moxifloxacin in combination with pyrazinamide, an existing antibiotic commonly used in TB treatment today.
Based on pre-clinical data, the combination has shown potential to shorten treatment time for virtually all tuberculosis patients, and to harmonise the treatment of DS-TB and MDR-TB treatment with a single three-drug regimen.
It is a particularly significant advance for MDR-TB patients, who must take multiple types of drugs every day for up to two years.
