New Antibiotics Show Promise Against Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea

New antibiotics have been approved to combat drug-resistant gonorrhea, a significant public health threat. Zoliflodacin, also known as Nuzolvence, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration on December 12, 2023.

Gepotidacin, developed by GSK, was approved a day earlier on December 11, 2023. Gonorrhea infections exceed 82 million globally each year, with a rising incidence of drug-resistant strains. The World Health Organization has designated these strains as a priority pathogen, with resistance to ceftriaxone rising from 0.8% to 5% and cefixime from 1.7% to 11% between 2022 and 2024.

Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, director of the WHO's sexually transmitted infections department, stated that the approval of new treatments is crucial given the increasing global incidence and limited treatment options.

In clinical trials published in The Lancet, zoliflodacin cured over 90% of genital gonorrhea infections, matching the effectiveness of current standard treatments. This trial involved 930 participants from various countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand, and the US.

Dr. Manica Balasegaram, executive director of GARDP, emphasized that this approval marks a turning point in the treatment of multidrug-resistant gonorrhea. Under GARDP's partnership with Innoviva, it holds rights to commercialize zoliflodacin in low to middle-income countries, aiming to reduce the burden of disease and prevent the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhea globally.

Dr. Rossaphorn Kittiyaowamarn, principal investigator in Thailand, noted that a single-dose oral treatment would be transformative for gonorrhea control.