Novel antibiotic shows promise in treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea

7 November 2018

GENEVAResults of a phase II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of zoliflodacin in patients with uncomplicated gonorrhoea have been published in theNew England Journal of Medicinetoday. The data show zoliflodacin, an oral antibiotic, was well-tolerated and achieved very high microbiological cure rates, at urogenital sites, in patients with uncomplicated gonorrhoea.

Seamus O’Brien, R&D Director, GARDP said “The results of this phase II trial are very exciting as GARDP, in partnership with Entasis, moves forward with plans to conduct a phase III clinical trial in the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand, and the US in 2019. Zoliflodacin – a novel, first-in-class oral antibiotic – is one of the few treatments in development for drug-resistant gonorrhoea.”

With an estimated 78 million new cases occurring globally every year and reports of drug-resistant strains on the increase, gonorrhoea is now a global public health priority. There is an urgent need for new treatment options, developed with sustainable access at the forefront, including for those living in developing and emerging economies where the burden of infection is greatest.

About GARDP

GARDP is a not-for-profit research and development organization that addresses global public health needs by developing and delivering new or improved antibiotic treatments, while endeavouring to ensure their sustainable access. Initiated by the WHO and the Drugs for Neglected Diseaseinitiative(DNDi), GARDP is an important element of WHO’s Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance that calls for new public-private partnerships to encourage research and development of new antimicrobial agents and diagnostics. GARDP is currently hosted by DNDi.www.gardp.org

References

SN Tayloret al. (2018). Single-Dose Zoliflodacin (ETX0914) for Treatment of Urogenital Gonorrhea.New England Journal of Medicine. doi 10.1056/NEJMoa1706988

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