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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) — Two new antibiotics, sutezolid and delpazolid, have shown promising results in treating tuberculosis (TB), potentially offering millions of patients safer alternatives to existing therapies. Developed by German researchers, these drugs demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity and significantly fewer side effects compared to the widely used antibiotic linezolid.
The findings come from two international clinical studies, recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Both studies found that sutezolid and delpazolid are not only effective but also much safer for patients, especially those with drug-resistant forms of TB. According to Dr. Ivan Norena of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at LMU University Hospital Munich, “Seeing fewer side effects with sutezolid and delpazolid is a significant step forward — it brings us closer to TB therapies that are both effective and easier for patients to tolerate”.
Linezolid, introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 as part of the BPaLM regimen (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin), marked a major advance by reducing treatment duration for multidrug-resistant TB from 18 months to just 6 months. However, its prolonged use has been linked to serious side effects, including anemia and optical neuropathy, making it unsuitable for many patients.
Both sutezolid and delpazolid belong to the same class of antibiotics as linezolid (oxazolidinones) but appear to be less toxic. In Phase 2b clinical trials conducted in South Africa and Tanzania, the new drugs were tested alongside bedaquiline, delamanid, and moxifloxacin — marking the first time this specific four-drug combination has been studied. The results indicated that patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB experienced fewer and less severe side effects compared to those typically seen with linezolid.
“These findings suggest that both drugs may offer safer treatment options for TB patients, particularly those requiring longer courses of therapy,” the researchers concluded.
“Despite its effectiveness, linezolid is simply too toxic for many patients. We urgently need safer alternatives in this antibiotic class,” said Dr. Norbert Heinrich, principal investigator of the studies.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on early-phase clinical research. While sutezolid and delpazolid have shown promise in initial studies, they are not yet approved for widespread clinical use. Further trials and regulatory review are required before these drugs can become standard treatment options for tuberculosis. Patients should consult healthcare professionals for current treatment guidelines and should not make changes to their prescribed TB therapy based on this news alone.
