Welcome to the Working Group on New TB Drugs Blog
TB R&D Weekly Update: TDR Tuberculosis Strain Bank
This week we highlight an article looking at the TDR Tuberculosis Strain Bank and its utility. Additional links to TB R&D news are included.
TB R&D Weekly Update: Totally Drug-Resistant TB
Over the past couple of weeks there have been much discussion and reporting on totally drug-resistant tuberculosis (TDR-TB) based on reports of new cases in India. Here are links to coverage of TDR-TB in India, excerpt from a response by Dr. Nardell who we interviewed last year, and link to the WHO Fact Sheet on TDR-TB. Additional links to TB R&D News are included.
WHO Alarmed by Rising Rates of Drug-Resistant TB in Europe
Yesterday, BBC News published an article on the WHO Plan entitled “Consolidated action plan to prevent and combat multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in the WHO European Region 2011–2015.” The plan outlines the problem as well as a solution that could save 120,000 lives if successful.
Posted in Regulations and Guidelines, TB Prevention and Control Strategies, TB Treatment
Updated WHO guidelines on Drug-Resistant TB
The WHO issued updated guidelines on the programmatic management of drug-resistant TB on August 4, 2011 online in the European Respiratory Journal.
TB R&D Weekly Update: Some Multidrug-resistant Bacteria More Fit
This week we have an article by researchers from Portugal that suggests that in the case of resistance conferred by plasmids that in some cases resistant bacteria increases its ability to replicate and overall fitness compared to susceptible bacteria. This may complicate research and control efforts to address the rising problem of multi-drug resistance. Additional links to TB R&D News are included.
Posted in Early Drug Development, Front Lines of TB R&D, TB Drug Development, Uncategorized
TB R&D Weekly Update: Novel Compounds Screened for DS and MDR-TB
This week’s featured article from Bill Jacob’s lab looks at novel InhA (target of isoniazid (INH), a first-line TB drug) inhibitors and their ability to kill M. tuberculosis (M.tb) that is drug-sensitive, resistant and in dormant stage. Two compounds were identified that had significant bactericidal activity against M.tb: CD 39 and CD117. Additional links to TB R&D News are included.
Report: An Evaluation of DR-TB Treatment Scale-up
MSF, PIH, and TAG release a report on MDR-TB scale up that shows poor progress that is leading to spread of MDR-TB and the continued loss of lives.
TB R&D Weekly Update: Early bactericidal activity of OPC-67683
This week, we review a recent article published in the July issue of IJTLD on the TB drug candidate OPC-67683 whose new generic name is delamanid. Diacon, et al., present data showing that delamanid is safe, well-tolerated with significant early bactericidal activity. Links to additional TB R&D news is included.
TB R&D Weekly Update: Potential Use of Polyether Ionophores Against TB
During this week’s TB R&D Weekly Update, we explore the potential of polyether ionophores as anti-tuberculosis agents in an article published in 2009 by Kevin, et al. Links to additional TB R&D News are included.
Posted in Early Drug Development, Front Lines of TB R&D, TB Drug Development, TB Treatment
TB R&D Weekly Update: Efflux and Rifampicin Resistance
This week we look again at the role of efflux pumps in resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs. Louw, et al., sought to “demonstrate that the level of rifampicin resistance is defined by efflux, which regulates the intracellular concentration of rifampicin.” This is a shift from the current thinking in the field that rifampicin resistance is solely the result of mutations in the rpoB gene. The article entitled “Rifampicin Reduces Susceptibility to Ofloxacin in Rifampicin Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis through Efflux” was published ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Additional links to TB R&D News is included.
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Toppix TB News- Editorial: Lives at risk if the U.S. shortchanges Global Fund 4 Feb 2012
- Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis - Update 3 Feb 2012
- Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis - Update 3 Feb 2012
- WHO says TB in Russia displays highest known drug resistance 3 Feb 2012
- Media outlets examine Global Fund's future as it enters second decade 3 Feb 2012
