The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades are being hailed as a "significant breakthrough" in the battle against superbug strains of the infection, according to researchers.
Cases of gonorrhoea are escalating worldwide, with figures suggesting in excess of 82 million infections each year. Especially elevated rates are observed in Africa and nations within the WHO's designated area, which encompasses Mongolia and China to New Zealand. Within England, cases have hit a all-time high, while infection numbers across Europe in 2023 were three times higher compared to the rates from 2014.
“The approval of new treatments for gonorrhoea is an important and timely development in the face of increasing worldwide cases, escalating drug resistance and the very limited treatment choices at this time.”
Health officials are particularly alarmed about the rise in antibiotic-resistant strains. The World Health Organization has designated it as a "high-priority threat". Ongoing monitoring revealed that the effectiveness of key first-line drugs like ceftriaxone and cefixime jumped significantly between 2022 and 2024.
One new antibiotic, alternatively called a brand name, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in recent days for use against gonorrhoea. This disease can lead to significant complications, including infertility. Researchers hope that focused deployment of this new drug will help hinder the development of resistance.
Gepotidacin, originating from the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, also received approval in concurrent days. This treatment, which is additionally indicated for UTIs, was shown in trials to be able to combat antibiotic-resistant forms of the gonorrhoea bacteria.
Zoliflodacin stemmed from a unique collaborative effort for drug creation. The charitable organization Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership partnered with the pharmaceutical company Innoviva to bring it to fruition.
“This milestone represents a huge turning point in the management of highly resistant gonorrhoea, which until now has been evolving faster than antibiotic development.”
As per findings detailed in a prominent scientific publication, the new drug successfully treated more than 90% of cases of the STI. This establishes an equal footing with the typical regimen, which involves two antibiotics. The trial involved over 900 patients from various regions including Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Thailand and the US.
Under the terms of its unique model, GARDP has the rights to register and commercialise the drug in a wide range of low-income and middle-income countries.
Clinicians directly involved have shared hope. The availability of a single-dose, oral treatment such as this is described as a "revolutionary step" for gonorrhoea control. This is viewed as essential to reduce the burden of the disease for people and to prevent the spread of untreatable gonorrhoea around the world.
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