Emerging treatments

Rifapentine and moxifloxacin (4-month regimen)

An international, randomised, controlled, open-label phase 3 non-inferiority clinical trial (study 31/A5349) found that a four-month daily treatment regimen containing high-dose (optimised) rifapentine with moxifloxacin is as effective as the standard daily 6-month regimen in the treatment of drug-susceptible pulmonary TB.[107] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization both now recommend the 4-month regimen (8 weeks of daily treatment with rifapentine, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and moxifloxacin, followed by 9-weeks of daily treatment with rifapentine, isoniazid, and moxifloxacin) as a treatment option for patients aged ≥12 years with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis.[94][108] This regimen is not currently recommended for most types of EPTB but could be an acceptable option for patients with EPTB that is likely to be paucibacillary, does not pose a substantial risk for death or disability, and does not require prolonged treatment (i.e., pleural or lymph node TB).[94][108] Additional studies are recommended for patients with EPTB.[94][108]

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