Phase 2C clinical trial of novel short-course regimens for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis: TBTC study 38/CRUSH-TB design
Abstract
Introduction: Preclinical and clinical study data show that combining bedaquiline (B or BDQ), moxifloxacin (M), and pyrazinamide (Z), known as BMZ, has potent antimicrobial activity that might shorten treatment duration for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods/design: We describe the design of Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC) Study 38/CRUSH-TB (NCT05766267), an open-label multicenter international randomized controlled phase 2C trial that compares two four-month regimens, BMZ plus rifabutin (Rb) (2BMZRb/2BMRb) or BMZ plus delamanid (D or DLM) (2BMZD/2BMD), with standard 6-months isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (HRZE). All drugs are administered seven days per week, under direct observation, at least five days per week. A total of 288 participants, aged ≥12 years, newly diagnosed with sputum smear-positive or Xpert MTB/RIF (Ultra)-positive drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis, will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive BMZRb, BMZD, or HRZE. Participants are followed until 78 weeks post-randomization, or until the last enrolled participant completes 52 weeks post-randomization, whichever comes first. The primary endpoint is time to sputum culture negative in liquid media. Secondary endpoints include sustained cure, safety, and additional mycobacteriology and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic outcomes. This trial has an adaptive design, wherein new arms can be added.
Discussion: This trial tests the hypothesis whether four-month BMZ-based…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 288 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Understanding the factors influencing fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) damage in African smallholder maize fields and quantifying its impact on yield. A case study in Eastern Zimbabwe
- Alarming situation of emerging H5 and H7 avian influenza and effective control strategies
- Livestock and food security: vulnerability to population growth and climate change
- Atmosphere–ocean oxygen and productivity dynamics during early animal radiations
- Characterization of the global distribution and diversified plasmid reservoirs of the colistin resistance gene mcr-9
- The global seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pigs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.