Summary: Dr. Tawanda Gumbo, an associate professor at the The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, recently published a paper in the Journal of Infectious Diseases entitled “Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis not due to noncompliance but to between-patient pharmacokinetic variability.” The paper puts forth evidence that nonadherence may not be the prime reason for the emergence of drug resistance in TB but instead that the differences or fluctuations in the way patients absorb, metabolize and retain the drug in their bodies contributes to the emergence of resistance to TB drugs. In this interview, we discuss the recently published paper, his research interests and background, the recent debate on the role of efflux pumps in drug tolerance and his research to optimize TB drugs.
Dr. Gumbo’s research is focused on advanced pharmacometrics, antimicrobial pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics, clinical trial simulations using Monte Carlo Methods, individualized Bayesian dose optimization, as well as, the molecular and cellular pharmacology of antituberculosis and other antimycobacterial agents.
Additional TB R&D News:
Recent exchange on the topic of Moxifloxacin use:
Rational use of moxifloxacin for tuberculosis treatment
Moxifloxacin for tuberculosis (Mendel & Springsklee)
Moxifloxacin for tuberculosis (Singh, et al.)
Moxifloxacin for tuberculosis — Authors’ reply
Other news links: