| Abstract: | Evaluation of: Diacon AH, Dawson R, Von Groote-Bidlingmaier F et al. Randomized dose-ranging study of the 14-day early bactericidal activity of bedaquiline (TMC207) in patients with sputum microscopy smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 57(5), 2199–2203 (2013).During the past decade considerable efforts have been made to develop and register new anti-TB drugs, making them available for patients in need. Bedaquiline (BDQ), approved by the US FDA in December 2012, is the first new anti-TB drug available for treatment of this disease since rifampicin became available in 1967. BDQ has the peculiarity of being a drug with a very long half-life and potent antimicrobial activity that becomes noticeable only after the first 4 days of treatment. Consequently, Diacon et al. have conducted a 14-day dose-ranging study aimed at assessing the early bactericidal activity of BDQ in TB patients who received loading doses of the drug during the first 2 days of treatment. The loading doses partially overcame the delayed antimicrobial activity only in patients treated daily with as much as 400 mg. |
