New drug could be a breakthrough in treatment for killer TB, trial suggests

New TB Treatment Shows Promising Results, Could Revolutionize Cure Rates and Patient Care. Researchers have made a breakthrough in the fight against killer tuberculosis (TB), with a new antibiotic, sorfequiline, showing stronger action against the deadly bacteria than existing treatments.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that TB remains a major global public health problem, responsible for over 1.2 million deaths last year alone. With aid cuts and falling short of targets to end TB as a public health threat by this decade, the WHO is calling on researchers to make progress.

A recent trial involving 309 people across 22 sites in South Africa, the Philippines, Georgia, Tanzania, and Uganda found that sorfequiline-based regimens could be used for anyone testing positive. The treatment showed comparable safety profiles to existing treatments while offering stronger action against TB bacteria.

According to Dr Maria Beumont, vice-president of the TB Alliance, patients could now receive a treatment immediately without waiting to understand their specific situation. This is crucial as access to swift diagnostic tests for TB is patchy, and it can take days or weeks in some places for doctors to get laboratories to identify the type of TB a patient has.

The trial's results have generated excitement among researchers, with some reporting "incredible" improvements in treatment outcomes. The hope is that this new treatment could lead to shorter treatment times, fewer side effects, and less strain on healthcare systems.

However, Dr Kavindhran Velen, chief scientific officer at the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, notes that applying this universal TB treatment universally may have downsides. He warns that overexposing patients to unnecessary treatment could lead to unintended consequences, such as discouraging investments in wider innovations like laboratories and testing.

Despite these concerns, researchers remain optimistic about the potential of sorfequiline to revolutionize TB treatment. The TB Alliance plans to launch a phase-3 clinical trial in 2026, with hopes that it will further improve cure rates and patient care.

TB's gonna be a thing of the past? lol what a joke! I'm all for the excitement but let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've been down this road before and seen some promising treatments that ultimately didn't quite live up to expectations. And what about the cost? I mean, universal treatment is great and all but it's gotta be affordable. We can't just expect pharmaceutical companies to cough up free meds for everyone. And have you considered the environmental impact of mass-produced antibiotics? We're talking potentially toxic waste and antibiotic resistance on steroids... no thanks!

I'm so relieved to hear this news about TB treatment ! It's crazy how many people still die from this disease every year... 1.2 million is just insane! I feel like we've been hearing about a new breakthrough for ages, but it's great that researchers are finally making progress.

I love that the new antibiotic sorfequiline could give patients immediate treatment without having to figure out what kind of TB they have . That's gotta make things way easier for doctors and patients alike. And the fact that it shows comparable safety profiles to existing treatments is a major win .

But, I'm also kinda concerned about Dr Kavindhran's warning about overexposure to unnecessary treatment . We don't want people getting stuck with more meds than they need, right? Still, it's awesome that researchers are optimistic about sorfequiline's potential to change TB treatment for the better .

Fingers crossed that this new treatment really does make a difference and we see some serious improvements in cure rates and patient care .

Ugh, finally some good news about TB! I mean, it's about time we found something to deal with this ancient disease, right? The stats are crazy, over 1.2 million deaths last year alone...that's just wild. And the fact that sorfequiline is showing stronger action against TB bacteria than existing treatments is a major win. I'm all for making progress on this stuff, especially when it comes to patient care and treatment times.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves here, we gotta consider the bigger picture. With a universal TB treatment, we might be creating some unintended consequences...like Dr Velen said, overexposing patients could lead to some issues. Still, I think the benefits outweigh the risks for now. And hey, who doesn't love a good underdog story? The fact that researchers are optimistic about sorfequiline is kinda infectious. Fingers crossed this new treatment leads to shorter treatment times, fewer side effects...and maybe even some serious progress on ending TB as a public health threat by this decade.

I'm not sure if this is a step in the right direction or just throwing more medication at the problem... like, we need faster treatments and better diagnostics already . And what about the cost? Are people going to be able to afford this new treatment when it's available? It's great that it shows promise, but what about all the people who can't access healthcare in the first place?

I'm stoked to hear about this new TB treatment ! It's like, we need all the help we can get to tackle this disease, right? With sorfequiline showing stronger action against the bacteria, I think we might finally be on the right track to making TB a thing of the past . The fact that patients could now receive treatment immediately without waiting for tests is a game-changer ️. And let's be real, who doesn't want shorter treatment times and fewer side effects? That's like, life-changing stuff ! I'm all about researchers being optimistic and pushing the boundaries of innovation ... even if there are some potential downsides to consider, it's worth exploring further . Fingers crossed for these phase-3 clinical trials in 2026!

Omg this is like super exciting news!!! I'm all about that progress when it comes to medical breakthroughs! So, the new antibiotic sorfequiline seems to be killing the TB game, right? But, what's up with the trial only involving 309 people across 22 sites? Like, isn't that a tiny sample size for a groundbreaking discovery? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's still super promising and all, but we need more data to be like, totally sure this is gonna change everything. And what about the side effects? How common are they? Should patients be worried?

TB's back, right? I'm not sure I'm sold on this new sorfequiline treatment just yet... don't get me wrong, 1.2 million deaths a year is a whole lotta people, but what about all the other factors at play here? Like how are we gonna make sure these labs and testing centers aren't getting cut too? We're still talking about healthcare systems taking a hit from this new treatment... I just wanna see some solid data before I'm jumping on the bandwagon. And don't even get me started on phase-3 clinical trials, that's when things start to get really sketchy

tb is literally killing ppl rn i no why u gotta go thru hell for yrs before gettin a correct diagnosis lol its so unfair tb treatment timez r so long already & now we got this new sorfequiline tho? thats lit!! hope it brings down dat 1.2 mil deaths yearly lol lets all b rooting 4 tb cure ASAP

I'm so stoked to hear about this new breakthrough in fighting TB! A new antibiotic, sorfequiline, is giving us real hope for a cure. It's crazy that researchers have found something stronger than existing treatments - talk about progress ! The fact that patients could now get immediate treatment without waiting for diagnostic tests is a game-changer . And the trial results showing "incredible" improvements in treatment outcomes? Mind blown .

I know there are some concerns about overexposing patients to unnecessary treatment, but I think the pros far outweigh the cons . This new treatment could lead to shorter treatment times, fewer side effects, and less strain on healthcare systems - it's a win-win situation ! Plus, the TB Alliance is planning another phase-3 clinical trial in 2026, which will hopefully further improve cure rates and patient care . Let's keep our fingers crossed that this new treatment can make a real difference in the fight against TB .

man this newTB treatment is looking super promising its gonna save so many lives worldwide tb has been killing ppl for ages now we cant afford to wait any longer for cures or even decent diagnostics the fact that sorfequiline can be used by anyone testing positive without a specific diagnosis is game changing gotta get this meds out ASAP and let the labs catch up

This new TB treatment is like, super promising! I mean, 1.2 million deaths last year is insane . It's crazy how researchers are pushing to make progress on this one. The idea of being able to start treatment immediately without all the extra testing sounds huge . Of course, there are some concerns about overexposure and potential downsides, but I'm optimistic that it'll be a game-changer for TB patients . We need innovative solutions like this ASAP

I'm so hyped about this breakthrough . TB is such a massive problem worldwide and it's amazing that we're getting closer to finding an effective treatment that can revolutionize how we approach this disease. I mean, the idea of patients being able to start treatment right away without needing to figure out what type of TB they have sounds like a total game-changer . Of course, there are always concerns about side effects and stuff, but if it means more people can get treated faster and live longer lives, then I'm all for it

omg, tb is still killing people left & right but i'm so hyped about this new sorfequiline treatment!!! it's like, finally something that could make a real difference in their lives the fact that it's faster and has fewer side effects is a game changer i mean, who needs to wait weeks or even months for tests when they can just start treatment already? it's like, let's get those people healed ASAP! but yeah, idk if it's all sunshine & rainbows though... like, what about the lab issues in some places? won't that mess things up somehow? still super hopeful for this new treatment tho!!!

This news is super exciting! I mean, 1.2 million deaths last year is just crazy. And the fact that sorfequiline shows stronger action against TB bacteria than existing treatments is a huge breakthrough . It's great to hear that researchers are making progress and hoping it can lead to shorter treatment times, fewer side effects, and less strain on healthcare systems.

But I'm also thinking about Dr Velen's concerns... like how we wouldn't want patients getting unnecessary treatment and discouraging innovation in labs and testing . It's good that researchers are being cautious but at the same time, I'm all for progress!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this new treatment has a lot of potential to change TB treatment forever . Fingers crossed it lives up to its promise and we can start seeing some real improvements in patient care .

I don’t usually comment but I just saw this news and I'm like totally stoked! A new TB treatment showing promising results is exactly what the world needs right now . I mean, we've been hearing about how TB is still a major public health problem for ages, and it's crazy that there's finally some progress being made.

I can imagine how frustrating it must be for patients who have to wait weeks or even months just to get diagnosed with TB, let alone receive treatment . The idea of having a universal treatment like sorfequiline that can be used right away without needing to know the specific type of TB is a total game-changer.

Of course, I'm also thinking about the potential downsides, like Dr Velen mentioned in the article . But overall, I think this is a huge step forward for researchers and patients alike. Fingers crossed that it'll lead to shorter treatment times, fewer side effects, and less strain on healthcare systems .

I just wish more people were talking about TB and how we can work together to tackle this problem . Maybe with treatments like sorfequiline, we can start making some real progress towards a world where TB is no longer the deadly threat it is today .

I'm so hyped about this new TB treatment! I mean, 1.2 million deaths last year is just insane... we need something to tackle this ASAP. The fact that sorfequiline can be used for anyone testing positive without waiting for their specific situation is genius . It's like a breath of fresh air for patients who've been stuck in the dark for too long.

I'm all for innovation and progress, but I do hope they're thinking about the potential downsides, you know? We don't want to overdo it and mess up the system . But overall, this is super promising and I'm rooting for the researchers! Fingers crossed that phase-3 clinical trial goes smoothly and we see some real change .

It's crazy to think that TB has been a major problem for so long... but with treatments like sorfequiline, maybe we're finally turning the corner . I just hope it doesn't lead to any more funding cuts . We need all hands on deck to tackle this.

This new TB treatment is like a two-edged sword - on one hand, it's super promising that we could finally get those TB death numbers under control , but on the other hand, there's a risk that overusing this treatment could lead to some unintended consequences like Dr. Velen said . I mean, think about it, if everyone is getting treated for TB regardless of their specific situation, we might be missing out on more effective treatments that are being developed .

And let's talk about access to healthcare in South Africa and other countries where this trial was done - those countries have some serious healthcare infrastructure issues . We need to make sure that any new treatment like sorfequiline is being rolled out in a way that prioritizes the most vulnerable populations, not just the ones with the means to pay for it .

Lastly, I think we need to ask ourselves if this new treatment is just a band-aid solution or does it address the root causes of TB? Is it just going to be another example of how we're treating symptoms instead of tackling the underlying issues that lead to this disease in the first place .

OMG this new TB treatment is like super promising!! I mean 1.2 million deaths last year from just one disease? That's crazy! Anyway back to sorfequiline - if it can kick TB's butt faster and with fewer side effects, that's a win in my book! The fact that patients could get treatment ASAP without waiting for tests is huge too. We need more accessible healthcare options, ya know? Now I'm not saying we shouldn't be worried about overusing this treatment, but overall it sounds like a game-changer. Fingers crossed it leads to shorter treatment times and better patient care!

Ugh I'm so glad they found something new for TB ... I was reading this article about how TB is killing people left and right and it's just really sad ... But I guess having a better treatment means more people might survive, which is kinda cool ... Wait what's sorfequiline again? Sounds like some medicine from sci-fi or something ... Do we have to wait until 2026 for this new treatment? Can't they just make it available now? ...