New TB treatment breakthroughs must reach those in-need without delay
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Shobha Shukla – CNS
Contd from previous issue
In ZeNix study, there were four groups of people, all of whom had drug-resistant forms of TB, and who were treated using the all oral, six months long BPaL regimen of Bedaquiline, Pretomanid and Linezolid. The only difference between these four groups was in the duration and/or dosing of Linezolid.
The first group received 1200mg of Linezolid for six months; second group received 1200mg of Linezolid for two months; third group received 600mg of Linezolid for six months, and the fourth group received 600mg of Linezolid for two months, shared Dr Tweed.
Overall treatment efficacy across the four groups ranged between 93% and 84% - with 93% among those who received 1200mg of Linezolid for six months and 84% among those who received 600mg of Linezolid for two months. It is important to note that the group with 600mg of Linezolid for six months had 91% efficacy – very similar to the highest efficacy of 93% - but drastically reduced levels of Linezolid-related toxicity - such as peripheral neuropathy which was reported in only 24%, and myelosuppression reported in only 2% patients in the study.
Dr Tweed shared that this study had had a life influencing impact on those enrolled. There were 181 people who took part in ZeNix study (about 20% of them in each of the four groups were people living with HIV).
(To be contd)
Contd from previous issue
In ZeNix study, there were four groups of people, all of whom had drug-resistant forms of TB, and who were treated using the all oral, six months long BPaL regimen of Bedaquiline, Pretomanid and Linezolid. The only difference between these four groups was in the duration and/or dosing of Linezolid.
The first group received 1200mg of Linezolid for six months; second group received 1200mg of Linezolid for two months; third group received 600mg of Linezolid for six months, and the fourth group received 600mg of Linezolid for two months, shared Dr Tweed.
Overall treatment efficacy across the four groups ranged between 93% and 84% - with 93% among those who received 1200mg of Linezolid for six months and 84% among those who received 600mg of Linezolid for two months. It is important to note that the group with 600mg of Linezolid for six months had 91% efficacy – very similar to the highest efficacy of 93% - but drastically reduced levels of Linezolid-related toxicity - such as peripheral neuropathy which was reported in only 24%, and myelosuppression reported in only 2% patients in the study.
Dr Tweed shared that this study had had a life influencing impact on those enrolled. There were 181 people who took part in ZeNix study (about 20% of them in each of the four groups were people living with HIV).
(To be contd)