The Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), along with three other renowned national institutes, is running clinical trials of a breakthrough medicine that aims at treating multi-drug resistance (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) and killing the bacteria in the lungs more quickly, if taken along with regular medication.

The research holds promise as it would significantly shorten the current two-year treatment, and the easy mode of administration would persuade more patients to complete their course of medication. Currently, MDR-TB treatment involves 16 tablets a day and daily injections for the first six months.

This research began last year and the first phase of the trials has been completed at the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi, which is also conducting the study with the National Jalma Institute of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases in Agra, and the Delhi-based Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The study is being funded by Tata Trusts (Rs 2 crore) and the ministry of human resource development (Rs 2.5 crore).