Two new drugs to treat drug-resistant TB are expected to hit the market in 2013. The drugs, Bedaqiline (TMC207) and Delamanid (OPC6783) are practically the first drugs to be developed in nearly 50 years and are expected to improve treatment of DR-TB.

These two investigational TB drugs are entering phase 3 studies and are likely to be submitted to the regulatory authorities this year. Dr Manica Balasegaram, executive director of Medicine Sans Frontier’s (MSF) Access Campaign has expressed confidence that these drugs will make treatment more accessible and affordable.