Bedaquiline, delamanid both effective against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

The new drugs bedaquiline and delamanid appear to be safe and effective in patients with tuberculosis resistant to multiple treatments, according to the results of a study conducted in South Korea.

Researchers looked at 318 patients, among whom 282 (88.7 percent) were treated with the two drugs (bedaquiline, n=107; delamanid, n=108; both concurrently or sequentially, n=67). They evaluated culture conversion rates, interim treatment outcomes at 12 months, and predictors of unfavourable outcomes.

The mean age of the population was 49.3 years, and 197 patients (69.9 percent) were male. Three patients were HIV seropositive, and 151 (53.5 percent) were resistant to quinolone.

The culture conversion rates were 57.4 percent (81/141) at 2 months and 89.4 percent (126/141) at 6 months. The 12-month outcome was favourable in the majority of the population (239/282; 84.8 percent).

Differences in the culture conversion rate or in interim treatment outcomes were not statistically significant according to drug susceptibility test patterns or new drugs used. Further analysis revealed that older age (>60 years) and lower body mass index (<18.5 kg/m²) were significantly associated with unfavourable outcomes at 12 months.

Adverse drug reactions rarely occurred on either bedaquiline or delamanid.

The present data show satisfactory interim treatment results in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, with no significant differences between the two drugs, the researchers said.