Johnson & Johnson Reports Data On TMC207 For Treatment Of MDR Tuberculosis

Published: 03-Jun-2009

TMC207, a diarylquinoline that offers a novel mechanism of action by specifically inhibiting mycobacterial ATP-synthase3

Johnson & Johnson has announced the results of ongoing phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the investigational drug TMC207. The drug will be used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. TMC207 is being developed by Tibotec BVBA. The data showed that the addition of TMC207 for eight weeks to a 5-drug background regimen, in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of patients achieving a negative sputum culture. They also showed a shorter time to sputum culture conversion as compared to the background regimen alone.

TMC207 is a diarylquinoline that offers a novel mechanism of action by specifically inhibiting mycobacterial ATP-synthase3, responsible for the cell’s energy production. In vitro, TMC207 potently inhibits both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates and is bactericidal against both actively replicating tubercle bacilli and non-replicating bacilli4.

The safety and efficacy of TMC207 are being further evaluated in ongoing and future trials.

Roger Pomerantz, President, Tibotec Research & Development, said: “The development of TMC207 is a tribute to the dedication of our scientists, to innovation and to the commitment of our company to accelerating the development of new drug regimens for tuberculosis.”

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