The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday announced new treatment guidelines that will allow more patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) to receive shorter treatment regimens.

Under the new guidance, patients with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) can be treated with the 6-month, all-oral BPaLM (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin) or BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid) regimens, in place of the 9- to 18-month or longer treatments that have been the standard.

The WHO estimates that roughly 500,000 MDR/RR-TB cases emerge each year.

The guidance is based on evidence gathered in two phase 3 clinical trials—TB-PRACTECAL and ZeNIX—that found the BPaLM and BPaL regimens to be highly effective (89% cure rate and higher) in patients with MDR/RR-TB over the age of 15. The WHO convened an independent guideline development group (GDG) in February and March to review the evidence and update the guidelines accordingly.

"All treatment should be delivered under WHO-recommended standards, including patient-centred care and support, informed consent where necessary, principles of good clinical practice, active drug safety monitoring and management, and regular monitoring of patients and of drug resistance to assess regimen effectiveness," the WHO said in a rapid communication that was released in advance of consolidated guidelines that will come later this year.