New Delhi: With cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB) posing a threat to India, Bedaquiline — the first anti-TB drug manufactured after Rifampicin, almost 50 years ago — has been approved for use in this country.
Bedaquiline is approved for use in the United States, European Union countries and some others. In a recent meeting, India’s apex committee on drugs recommended the waiver of local clinical trials for the drug and suggested it be used under the government-run TB programme.
Bedaquiline is needed to treat pulmonary TB due to multi-drug-resistant Mycobacterium TB (MDR TB), for which there is no effective therapy available in India. MDRTB is a serious life-threatening condition with high mortality, and is of special relevance in the Indian health scenario.
