The medicine, not yet approved, was developed by a non-profit organization
A new antibiotic, the first developed in decades, could cure gonorrhea infections comparable to current treatment. The news is encouraging, as cases of diseases resistant to all available drugs are increasingly common.
The drug, zoliflodacin, is given in a single dose and has not yet been approved for use in any country. However, according to a report from The New York Times.
Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases
In 2020 alone, it is estimated that over 82 million new gonorrhea infections were recorded worldwide. The disease is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeaewhich is transmitted through sexual contact to the genitals, rectum and throat.
About half of infected people have no symptoms, but in others gonorrhea can cause joint pain and burning during urination. If left untreated, the disease can cause infertility and sterility, blindness in children, or even death.
Over the years, bacteria have found ways to evade almost all available antibiotics. He has become resistant to azithromycin and is increasingly resistant to another antibiotic called ceftriaxone, which has become the standard drug.
A report published a few years ago shows that the number of cases of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea worldwide increased by more than 400% between 2013 and 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States .
In some cases, doctors try combining a ceftriaxone injection with azithromycin, but some evidence suggests that gonorrhea is evolving to bypass this treatment as well.
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Antibiotics do not generate profit
Pharmaceutical companies have largely abandoned antibiotic development because it is not a profitable market. Therefore, zoliflodacin had a new model: the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), a non-profit organization, led its development, with funding from several countries, in collaboration with the North American pharmaceutical company Innoviva Specialty.Therapeutics.
The organization sponsored the phase 3 clinical trial of the drug. In exchange, it holds the license to sell the antibiotic in about 160 countries, while Innoviva retains marketing rights for high-income countries.
The agreement ensures that the antibiotic is available and affordable to people in low- and middle-income countries.
Medicines may not cure all cases
The clinical trial involved 930 people in five countries, the largest ever for the treatment of gonorrhea. It showed that zoliflodacin was as effective in treating gonorrhea as the combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin.
The study was designed to test the effectiveness of zoliflodacin in the urogenital tract. Based on previous research, however, the drug is unlikely to be as effective in the throat and rectum. Further studies will need to be done to find out.
How to prevent resistance?
The more a drug is used, the greater the chance that pathogens will find ways to defend themselves from it. In studies conducted, zoliflodacin appears to be effective against a wide range of resistant strains of gonorrhea.
But that doesn’t rule out the possibility that bacteria could evolve to bypass the drug. The partnership agreement minimizes this possibility: the nonprofit plans to manage how the drug is distributed and ensure that it is only used to treat gonorrhea.
The best way to avoid infection and transmission of gonorrhea is to use a condom during all sexual intercourse, including oral sex, and to undergo periodic examinations, since the disease does not always cause symptoms.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
