New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time

Date:
November 16, 2010
Source:
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
Summary:
Scientists have developed an inhalable dry powder antibiotic that when used alone or with current treatments may significantly reduce treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB.
Share:
FULL STORY

Scientists have developed an inhalable dry powder antibiotic that when used alone or with current treatments may significantly reduce treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB.

There are an estimated 9.4 million new cases of TB worldwide, according to the most recent statistics from the World Health Organization. While tuberculosis is curable, treatment can take from 6 -12 months and up to two years for multi-drug resistant TB.

Lead researcher J'aime Manion and her colleagues from the University of Colorado developed the inhalable dry powder, comprised of fine particles of antibiotics. These particles are targeted to the deep lung where TB enters in early stages of infection. The goal of this method is to distribute a larger fraction of antibiotic to protected TB lesions that are difficult to access by current treatments.

"Combining this novel treatment with more traditional methods may increase the targeted dose to the lung airspace and tissue, potentially reducing treatment time and systemic side effects," said Manion. "As an inhalable powder, it eliminates the storage, disposal and contamination challenges that developing countries face with a needle delivery method."

For the first time, FIP's PSWC and the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition will join to hold the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting to improve global health through advances in pharmaceutical sciences. An estimated 10,000 scientists from more than 60 countries will participate in 100 sessions, including 40 symposia and roundtables.

This research is being presented at the 2010 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress (PSWC) in association with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. "New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 November 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116150027.htm>.
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. (2010, November 16). New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116150027.htm
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. "New dry powder antibiotic targets tuberculosis, reduces treatment time." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116150027.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES