Recent advances in antituberculous drug development and novel drug targets

Abstract

TB, especially multidrug-resistant TB and extensively drug-resistant TB, is an important global health concern, and the novel development of effective anti-tuberculous drugs is urgently needed. Newly elucidated, critical information on the entire genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and advances in knowledge regarding various mycobacterial virulence genes are promoting progression in the identification of genes that code for new drug targets. With this background, this review deals with the following areas: first, the future development of new anti-tuberculous drugs is discussed according to the potential pharmacological targets of MTB; and second, a review of the present development status of new anti-tuberculous drugs is conducted, particularly focusing on some promising new anti-tuberculous agents, such as nitroimidazoles, diarylquinolines and oxazolidinones.

Keywords::

• anti-tuberculous drug
• chemotherapy
• drug target
• tuberculosis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no 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. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.