New TB drug candidate may make treatment safer and faster: Study

A newly identified drug candidate, JNJ-6640, has demonstrated a novel mechanism of action against mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes TB), including dormant and drug-resistant forms, marking a significant step forward in TB drug research.

- Rupsa Chakraborty

By targeting a previously unexploited metabolic pathway essential for bacterial survival, JNJ-6640 may offer the potential to develop safer, shorter and more effective treatment regimens.

Further optimisation and clinical evaluation are needed to assess its suitability for human use.

The findings, published in Nature magazine recently, are the result of a collaborative effort between researchers at Johnson & Johnson and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

JNJ-6640 works by inhibiting the enzyme PurF, which deprives the TB bacterium of essential metabolites, ultimately leading to bacterial death.