Scope and Perspectives of New TB Drugs and Vaccines

Abstract

Tuberculosis remains a major threatening infectious disease claiming millions of lives every year; hence increasing the global burden of TB disease. Co-infection with human immuno-deficiency virus and emergence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, extremely drug resistant tuberculosis and totally drug resistant tuberculosis enhances deadly effect of tuberculosis. To eliminate TB disease from human population several partnerships are working together like Stop TB Partnership, TB Alliance, Tuberculosis vaccine initiative, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development and many other partners. Till now almost 10 drugs and 11 vaccines are under various clinical trials. Anti-Tuberculosis drugs like bedaquiline and clofazimine are being developed for treatment of tuberculosis as well as for treating MDR-TB, XDR-TB and TDR-TB but till now, no drugs are available for treatment of TDR-TB. PA-824 and SQ-109 showed their potent activity against tuberculosis and thought to reduce the treatment duration in infected patients. Several vaccines are also being developed for enhancing the effect of Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin as well for replacing it. New anti-tuberculosis drugs offer hopes of shortened treatment regimens for drug susceptible, drug resistant and latent infection. The quest for better vaccines for controlling tuberculosis among human population in future continues.