The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, offering hope against rising drug-resistant strains of the infection. Health experts say the approvals could mark a major breakthrough as cases surge worldwide to an estimated 82 million a year.
The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared two new antibiotics, including zoliflodacin, which was shown in trials to cure more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea infections, matching current standard treatments. The World Health Organization has labelled gonorrhoea a “priority pathogen” amid growing resistance to existing drugs such as ceftriaxone and cefixime.
Researchers say the new oral, single-dose treatments could slow the spread of resistance and improve access to care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While officials stress the need for careful use to preserve effectiveness, the drugs are being hailed as a significant step forward after decades with no new options.
