A major discovery against leprosy thanks to an anti-tuberculosis drug: Bedaquiline 06 July 2025

Leprosy is a difficult disease to treat because the combination therapy involving several antibiotics over a period of one year is long and restrictive. Bedaquiline, known for its effectiveness in treating tuberculosis, has been tested for the treatment of leprosy in a clinical trial in Mali. It has proven to be highly effective, opening up promising prospects for simplifying leprosy treatment.

Bedaquiline Activity against Leprosy. Fomba A, Haidara FC, Kodio M, Arama C, Cambau E, Chauffour A, Veziris N, Broeckling BE, Warren AK, Cauchoix B, Alcaïs A, Marsollier L, Assé H, Jackson M, Sow SO, Faye O, Jarlier V, Cole ST, Avanzi C, Aubry A, Johnson RC. N Engl J Med. 2025 Jun 5;392(21):2174-2176. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2412487