Secnidazole: Next-Generation Antimicrobial agent for Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment

Abstract

Secnidazole is a next-generation 5-nitroimidazole approved for more than three decades in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa and recently in the USA as a single-dose (2 g) treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Secnidazole is characterized by potent in vitro antimicrobial activity against BV-associated pathogens, as well as prolonged terminal elimination half-life and systemic exposure. These characteristics form the basis of effective and safe treatment of BV with a 2-g single-dose secnidazole regimen, which was recently confirmed in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials conducted in the USA. The option to treat BV with single-dose secnidazole not only cures the primary infection but also may diminish risks of serious sequelae of untreated or undertreated infection.

Keywords:

• bacterial vaginosis
• nitroimidazole
• secnidazole
• vaginitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

P Nyirjesy has received research grant funding from BD Diagnostics, Curatek Pharmaceuticals, Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Cidara Therapeutics and Novadigm Therapeutics. He is also a paid consultant for Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Cidara Therapeutics, Exeltis USA and Novadigm Therapeutics. J Schwebke has received grant funding from BD Diagnostics, Hologic, Curatek Pharmaceuticals, Toltec Pharmaceuticals, Alfa Wasserman, StarPharma and LabCorp of America. In addition, P Nyirjesy and J Schwebke were investigators in secnidazole clinical development studies sponsored by Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC and received research grant funding from Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC for this work. They are both paid consultants for Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript. The authors acknowledge Sandra Norris, PharmD of the Norris Communications Group LLC for medical writing assistance for which she was compensated by Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC.

Additional information

Funding

P Nyirjesy has received research grant funding from BD Diagnostics, Curatek Pharmaceuticals, Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Cidara Therapeutics and Novadigm Therapeutics. He is also a paid consultant for Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Cidara Therapeutics, Exeltis USA and Novadigm Therapeutics. J Schwebke has received grant funding from BD Diagnostics, Hologic, Curatek Pharmaceuticals, Toltec Pharmaceuticals, Alfa Wasserman, StarPharma and LabCorp of America. In addition, P Nyirjesy and J Schwebke were investigators in secnidazole clinical development studies sponsored by Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC and received research grant funding from Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC for this work. They are both paid consultants for Symbiomix Therapeutics, LLC. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed