A new antibiotic for tuberculosis, sorfequiline, has shown stronger action against the disease than existing treatments in a clinical trial, raising hopes for shorter and more effective therapy. The findings were presented at the Union Conference on Lung Health in Copenhagen by researchers from the TB Alliance.
The trial involved 309 participants with drug-sensitive TB across 22 sites in South Africa, the Philippines, Georgia, Tanzania and Uganda. Sorfequiline demonstrated a comparable safety profile to current drugs but with enhanced efficacy, potentially allowing for a universal regimen that could be used without waiting for diagnostic test results.
Dr Maria Beumont, vice-president of TB Alliance, said the approach could simplify treatment: “I can just put you on a treatment while I’m waiting to understand exactly what your situation is. There is no need to go through all of that.” Currently, access to swift diagnostic tests is patchy, and delays can hinder timely care.
Dr William Brumskine from the Aurum Institute in South Africa noted that a shorter, less toxic regimen could reduce clinic visits and allow healthcare providers to offer more individualised care. The current gold-standard treatment, introduced in 2019, cures 90% of patients within six months, but researchers believe sorfequiline could improve outcomes further.
TB Alliance plans to launch a phase-3 clinical trial in 2026. However, Dr Kavindhran Velen of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease cautioned against overuse, warning that a universal treatment might disincentivise investment in diagnostics and could expose patients to unnecessary medication. “We don’t want to overexpose an individual to treatment that is not necessarily needed,” he said.
