Results from a phase III study indicate that the first antibiotic to be developed in 30 years to treat gonorrhea may soon be available. The test has been carried out in 930 patientsmore than half of South Africa, and is the first to address a priority pathogen of the World Health Organization (WHO) carried out by a non-profit organization.
This organization, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), has announced positive preliminary data with single-dose zoliflodacin treatment.
Every year, more than 82 million new cases of gonorrhea are recorded worldwide. Bacterial infection Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the third most common sexually transmitted and it affects both men and women. If left untreated, the pathogen can cause infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Worryingly, the bacteria have developed resistance to virtually all antibiotics available. To treat these supergonorreas The administration of ceftriaxone by intramuscular injection must be used almost as a last resort.
Hence the importance of having new treatments. The trial involved 930 people with gonorrhea in South Africa, Thailand, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands. The participants received one 3 g tablet of zoliflodacin o to 500 mg ceftriaxone injection, in combination with a 1 g oral dose of the antibiotic azithromycin.