TB Alliance has announced that it will conduct a landmark Phase 3 clinical trial aimed at shortening the treatment of drug sensitive and MDR-TB. The trial known as STAND (Shortening Treatments by Advancing Novel Drugs) will test the PaMZ drug regimen composed of two drug candidates not yet approved for TB, PA-824 (Pa) and moxifloxacin (M), in addition to existing antibiotic pyrazinamide (Z). The STAND trial will span over 50 sites in 4 continents and is expected to shorten the treatment of MDR-TB from 2 years to 6 months. Additional benefits of the novel regimen include its low cost and relative ease compared to existing treatments and its compatibility with HIV drugs.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged financial support to TB Alliance for the STAND trial as well as the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other organizations.
For the official TB Alliance press release click here
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