U.S.

FDA Approves New Treatment For Drug-Resistant Forms Of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, according to WHO.

FDA Approves New Treatment For Drug-Resistant Forms Of Tuberculosis
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The FDA approved a new treatment for some of the most drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis Wednesday.

The agency OK'd the use of pretomanid tablets, as part of a regimen with linezolid and bedaquiline, for treating cases of "multidrug-resistant" or "extensively drug-resistant" TB.

According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. 

The infectious disease is spread from person to person through the air. It's caused by bacteria that usually attack the lungs. 

The new treatment was created by TB Alliance. The nonprofit group said now that it's FDA-approved, pretomanid is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of 2019.