The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, raising hopes of tackling the rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of the infection.
Gonorrhoea causes an estimated 82 million infections globally each year, with cases rising sharply in Europe and England. Resistance to existing frontline antibiotics has increased significantly, prompting the World Health Organization to label the disease a priority pathogen.
Two new drugs have now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Zoliflodacin, approved on 12 December, cured more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea cases in clinical trials and can be taken as a single oral dose. Gepotidacin, developed by GSK, was approved a day earlier and has also shown effectiveness against resistant strains.
Experts say the approvals mark a major breakthrough. Dr Manica Balasegaram of the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership said they represent a “huge turning point” after years in which resistance outpaced new drug development.
The WHO welcomed the move, warning that treatment options have been extremely limited. Researchers hope careful use of the new antibiotics will slow resistance and help curb the global spread of hard-to-treat gonorrhoea.
