On the PulseHighlights on biomedical research 
Novel, Long-acting Anti-tuberculosis Injection Formulation
BY: Benny ChungSep 1, 2022

Most societies are resuming to pre-pandemic normal life from COVID-19, but the world is not yet free from the threat of infectious disease. In 2020, Tuberculosis (TB) caused at least 1.3 million deaths globally; meanwhile the World Health Organization underachieved their milestones set for End TB strategy. Reasons behind the underachievement can be complicated and involve the interaction of multiple factors, of which non-adherence to treatment definitely has a role in it. TB treatment normally includes combination of drug regimens lasting for 6 months to prevent treatment failure and the development of drug resistance. Long-acting (LA) drug formulations that provide sustained drug release may produce drastic change in anti-TB treatment, as compliance could be enhanced through less frequent dosing. A group of American researchers has recently developed LA injectable formulations of the anti-TB antibiotic rifabutin. The formulations are injected as low viscous solutions and transform to a gel or solid depot in the body that controls the release of drug. The results were cheering; it was able to deliver the drug for 16 weeks with high enough plasma concentrations to prevent acquisition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, and to clear acute Mtb infection from the lung and other tissues in mouse model.