New Drug Regimens Revolutionize Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

A global clinical trial identifies three safe, effective, and accessible treatments for rifampin-resistant TB, offering shorter, all-oral options.

The endTB trial tested five all-oral, nine-month regimens using newer drugs bedaquiline and delamanid, with three regimens achieving success rates of 85–90%.
These treatments outperform the control group's 81% success rate and avoid the severe side effects and long durations of older TB therapies.
The trial enrolled 754 patients across seven countries and included diverse groups often excluded from clinical trials, such as children, pregnant women, and individuals with HIV or hepatitis C.
The World Health Organization added the three regimens to its recommended treatments for drug-resistant TB in August 2024, making them globally accessible.
Two of the regimens and another WHO-recommended treatment now cost under $500, meeting a long-standing affordability target set by activists.