Médecins Sans Frontières - endTB-Q first trial (ENG)

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB223331

Date taken / Date Recorded 21/03/2025 4:59 PM

Country India, Kazakhstan, Vietnam

Commissioning section MSF-FRANCE

Copyright MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Video format h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 3m38s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 450.20 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist endTB-Q clinical trial participant in India
After COVID, I had a severe cough.
I went to a hospital.

There, the doctor told me that I have tuberculosis.
endTB-Q clinical trial participant in Vietnam

After confirming that I had TB, I began the treatment process. The head doctor came down and introduced me to the endTB-Q program.
endTB-Q is the only clinical trial to focus on people with pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB): a very difficult-to-treat form of the disease that is resistant to the most effective drugs.

The aim was to seek a shorter, more tolerable treatment for patients.

Two treatment regimens were compared: a short course of 6 or 9 months, with 4 drugs, and a long course of 18 to 24 months, with 4 to 6 drugs.

Dr. Amanzhan Abubakirov
endTB-Q clinical trial investigator in Kazakhstan

Seven years ago, we could not have imagined that it was possible to cure patients in such a short period of time.
(...)
The results of the endTB-Q clinical trial are impressive: the efficacy of the shorter regimen is 86%, and 89% for the longer regimen.

As the study progressed, we observed patients’ rapid clinical improvement, good drug tolerance, achieving favorable treatment outcomes in a short period of time.
In individuals with severe TB at the start of treatment, the shorter regimen is not always sufficient to prevent relapse, making the longer regimen more effective.

Dr. Nguyễn Văn Khiêm
endTB-Q clinical trial investigator in Vietnam
By participating in the study, I realized that a key factor for successful treatment was helping patients complete all their treatment.

My mother made sure I took my medications and had my meals on time.
A person in this situation may feel demotivated. They might think, 'I have TB, and without family support, what would I do?’

The endTB-Q trial showed that strong patient support and attentive management of side effects remain critical to treatment success.
Making the medications easy to administer for patients and minimizing side effects help significantly in adherence [to treatment].
The doctors arranged for my medication to be sent directly to my local health centre, where I went daily to take it.

The combined use of bedaquiline, delamanid, clofazimine and linezolid [in shortened regimens] is in fact giving good results and is a treatment alternative for the growing number of people with pre-XDR-TB.
TB diagnostic tests and treatment prices remain too high for everyone to be able to afford them.

Short treatment regimens have been demonstrated to be effective and safe, and their introduction could make a significant difference [for MDR-TB patients].

Future research will help to identify patients who could most benefit from this regimen.

The endTB-Q trial was led by Médecins Sans Frontières, Partners In Health, Interactive Research and Development, and co-funded by Unitaid.