TB Alliance Advances Two Drugs to Trial

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development has advanced two tuberculosis (TB) candidates, moxifloxacin and PA-284, into the next phases of research.

The moxifloxacin Phase III program, REMoxTB, is part of a development program between the alliance and Bayer HealthCare, which developed and markets moxifloxacin for other indications. Recruitment for the trial will begin at six sites in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The study will test whether a four-drug regimen that includes moxifloxacin can reduce treatment time for TB.

PA-824 is in a Phase IIa study in which patients will receive either it or the standard four-drug TB treatment for 14 days. If the study results are positive, the PA-824 will advance to a Phase IIb study in which it will be given in combination with other drugs, the alliance said.