Bedaquiline approved by FDA

The first Tuberculosis drug in 40 years!

The FDA just last week approved the first new treatment for tuberculosis in 40 years, Bedaquiline (also known as Sirturo, TMC207 or R207910).

This drug was discovered via the screening of 70,000 compounds for activity against M smegmatis, a more rapidly growing and manageable mycobacterium compared with M. tuberculosis.

Clifton Barry, a leader in the field of TB drug development, gives an interesting review of how this drug was discovered “the wrong way”.