Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT ANTI TUBERCULOSIS DRUGS MOLECULES IN CLINICAL STUDIES FOR MDR-TB TREATMENT

G. Sridhar*, P. Dinesh Kumar, A. Abdulrahiman, B. Gokulnathan, E. Sindhu,
V. Suriya and S. Vijaya Ganesh

ABSTRACT

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, poses a significant global health challenge. As reported in 2024 by the World Health Organization (WHO), MDR-TB constitutes around 3.6% of all new TB cases and 20% of those previously treated, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the new drug candidates in clinical trials for the treatment of MDR-TB, exploring their mechanisms of action (MOA). These emerging therapies target various critical processes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, such as disrupting cell wall synthesis, inhibiting protein synthesis, altering metabolic pathways, and blocking essential enzymes involved in bacterial growth. The review aims to provide an overview of these drugs’ mechanisms, clinical progress, and the hurdles they must overcome in the battle against MDR-TB. Looking forward, the continued development of these drugs is essential to improving treatment outcomes and combating the growing threat of MDR-TB globally.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs.