A groundbreaking initiative , BEAT-Tuberculosis, has become the world’s first programme in the battle against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) for all population groups, influencing the international TB treatment policy of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The principal investigator leading this study, Dr Francesca Conradie, explained that the study’s success in demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of the new short oral regimen in these key populations marks a pivotal step toward a more comprehensive and equitable healthcare strategy for TB. “The BEAT-Tuberculosis study represents a groundbreaking approach in the fight against tuberculosis, particularly with its inclusive research methodology.
“By incorporating pregnant women and children into the clinical trials, the study has expanded the understanding of TB treatment’s efficacy and safety across broader demographics,” said Conradie. BEAT-Tuberculosis study was conducted over the past six years The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a novel shortened treatment regimen for DR-TB compared with the established standard of care. The standard treatment consisted of a regimen of seven drugs administered over a minimum of nine months, in comparison to a regimen of four to five medications, which included newer agents like bedaquiline and delamanid, and was administered over only six months.
The BEAT-Tuberculosis clinical study was conducted at the Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU) I.