Oral Anti-Tuberculosis Agent Prepares for Commercialization

Qurient Co. Ltd. and TB Alliance recently announced that they have entered into a license agreement to develop and commercialize telacebec (Q203), a first-in-class orally available cytochrome bc1 inhibitor for treating tuberculosis (TB) and other non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infections.

The potent efficacy of telacebec against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies.

Telacebec was successfully tested in Phase 2a early bactericidal activity study for TB, and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 2020).

Telacebec has received Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA.

Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO of TB Alliance, stated in a press release on February 3, 2023, "TB Alliance is excited to partner with Qurient to bring about the next generation of TB cures."

"New drugs like telacebec are urgently needed in the fight against TB as well as certain NTM infections – compounds with potentially impactful novel mechanisms of action can have a significant benefit in combating the TB pandemic. "

"If we expect to regain ground lost to COVID-19, we need to use every tool we have to give patients the best possible treatment and save lives."

"We look forward to advancing this new compound as part of combination regimens that could yield a short, simple, safe, and highly effective cure for all forms of TB."

Vaccines to prevent TB, such as the BCG vaccine, have been available for about 100 years and are generally available in most countries in 2023.