Novel Antibiotic Zoliflodacin Aims To Combat Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea In Ongoing Clinical Trials
A new antibiotic, Zoliflodacin, has shown promise in a clinical trial as a potential treatment for gonorrhea, the second most common sexually transmitted disease. Gonorrhea has become resistant to most existing antibiotics, and this development offers hope for combating drug-resistant strains of the infection.
In the clinical trial, Zoliflodacin demonstrated effectiveness in treating uncomplicated gonorrhea infections, on par with the current standard treatment, which involves an injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone along with one dose of azithromycin pills. The concern was that the existing treatment might lose its effectiveness due to emerging resistance, leaving gonorrhea without a viable treatment option.
Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, an infectious disease expert, noted that Zoliflodacin provides a new tool in the treatment of gonorrhea and, if used wisely, can act as a barrier against the further spread of resistant infections. The drug was developed by Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, a U.S.-based company, in collaboration with the Swiss nonprofit Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership.
Dr. Edward Hook III, the protocol chair for the study and emeritus professor of medicine at the University of Alabama, referred to the outcome as a potential game-changer for sexual health. He mentioned that Zoliflodacin offers several advantages, including potential benefits for patients with infections caused by resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a lack of cross-resistance with other antibiotics, and an oral route of administration, simplifying gonorrhea therapy for clinicians globally.
However, it’s important to note that Zoliflodacin is less effective in treating gonorrhea infections in the throat compared to those in the genital or rectal areas, a common challenge with all gonorrhea treatments. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, a study co-author and director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, highlighted the difficulty in controlling throat infections as a significant challenge in the battle against gonorrhea.
Innoviva aims to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Zoliflodacin as soon as possible. With over 82 million new gonorrhea cases reported annually worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and a significant increase in cases in the United States, there is a pressing need for effective treatments. Gonorrhea disproportionately affects young adults and adolescents and is particularly common among gay and bisexual men.
Gonorrhea not only poses a direct health risk but also increases the risk of HIV infection. It can be especially damaging to women and compromise fertility. The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens is considered one of the top 10 global public health threats by the WHO.
The development of Zoliflodacin offers hope in the battle against drug-resistant gonorrhea, providing a potential new treatment option that, if used wisely, could help prevent the further spread of resistant infections. This development is particularly significant given the rising incidence of gonorrhea and the potential public health risks associated with untreated infections.
