Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and has become resistant to treatments over the years.
A single-dose oral drug called zoliflodacin is showing promise as a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
According to a phase 3 clinical trial published in The Lancet, The study found that one dose of zoliflodacin was as effective as the current standard treatment, which combines two antibiotics: an injection of ceftriaxone followed by an oral dose of azithromycin.
Gonorrhea affects more than 82 million people worldwide every year. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat as the bacteria that cause infections develop resistance to current antibiotics.
This new drug has the potential to slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and make gonorrhea treatment more accessible worldwide.
The international process involved more than 900 people from five countries (USA, South Africa, Thailand, Belgium and the Netherlands).
Participants were given the new pill or the standard treatment and results showed that zoliflodacin cured more than 90% of infections on the genitals.
The drug was well tolerated, with side effects similar to those of current treatments, and no serious safety concerns were reported.
Zoliflodacin is currently awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, the authors say it could significantly improve global efforts to control drug-resistant gonorrhea infections, support community-led care and protect the reproductive health of millions of people.
