Abstract
Rifapentine (RPT) is a long-acting rifamycin derivative which has a much longer half-life in mice and in humans than rifampicin (RIF). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of RPT against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is similar or slightly lower than that of RIF. The pharmacokinetics of rifapentine have been explored in both humans and mice and provided results more favorable for an intermittent treatment of tuberculosis than RIF and rifabutin (RBT). The activity of RPT against M. tuberculosis was better than that of RIF and RBT and was dose-related in both preventine and curative murine models of tuberculosis. RPT treatment administered once weekly was effective against M. tuberculosis but not when administered once every 2 or 3 weeks. An RPT-containing regimen was as effective as the daily standard regimen in the initial phase of treatment if it was preceded by 2 weeks of daily treatment containing RIF, isoniazid (INH), pyrazinamide (PZA) and streptomycin (SM) followed by a once-weekly regimen of RPT, INH, PZA and SM for 6 weeks RPT is a highly promising drug for intermittent therapy of tuberculosis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 17-27 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Drugs of Today |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | SUPPL. D |
State | Published - Dec 1 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacology (medical)