July 8th, 2008
NIAID researchers show how promising TB drug works
NIAID news release 26 December 2005
Scientist sfrom the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have determined how a promising drug candidate attacks the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Published online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the finding may help scientists optimize the drug candidate, PA-824, which targets Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb).
"PA-824, now in early stage clinical trials, holds promise for shortening the TB treatment regimen, which is currently cumbersome and lengthy," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "This new finding will allow a streamlined approach for making improved versions of the drug."
More information on TB
Reference:
UH Manjunatha et al. Identification of a nitroimidazo-oxazine-specific protein involved in PA-824 resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences (2005) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0508392102.