Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has approved introduction of the BPaLM regimen – a novel treatment for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under its National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) as a highly effective and shorter treatment option.

This regimen includes a new anti-TB drug namely Pretomanid in combination with Bedaquiline & Linezolid (with/without Moxifloxacin). Pretomanid has earlier been approved & licensed for use in India by Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

The BPaLM regimen, which consists of a four-drug combination – Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid and Moxifloxacin, has been proven to be safe, more effective and a quicker treatment option than the previous MDR-TB treatment procedure. While traditional MDR-TB treatments can last up to 20 months with severe side effects, BPaLM regimen can cure the drug-resistant TB in just six months with high treatment success rate. India’s 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients will now be able to avail benefit of this shorter regimen. With the other advantages, there will be an overall saving in cost.

The Department of Health & Family Welfare, in consultation with the Department of Health Research ensured validation of this new TB treatment regimen that witnessed a thorough review of evidence by in-country subject experts. The Department of Health & Family Welfare has also got a Health Technology Assessment done through the Department of Health Research to ensure that this MDR-TB treatment option is safe and cost effective.  

This move by the Government of India is expected to significantly boost the country’s progress to achieve its national goal of Ending TB. A country-wide time-bound roll out plan of the BPaLM regimen is being prepared by the Central TB Division of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in consultation with states/UTs, which includes rigorous capacity building of health professionals for safe administration of the new regimen.