Evidence from Indonesia Shows BPaLM 87.5% More Effective in Achieving DR-TB Treatment Success vs. Other Regimens

New evidence from Indonesia reinforces the transformative potential of the BPaL/M regimens for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). A recent retrospective study conducted at Dr. Soekardjo Regional General Hospital in Tasikmalaya City evaluated treatment outcomes among MDR-TB patients treated between 2023 and 2025 and compared newer regimens with conventional therapies

The study found that patients treated with the BPaL/M regimen—combining bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin—had markedly better outcomes than those receiving older treatment combinations. Specifically, BPaL/M was 87.5% more effective in achieving treatment success compared with conventional regimens, with a significantly lower risk of treatment failure. In contrast, several commonly used conventional regimens were associated with a three- to four-fold higher risk of failure.

Beyond effectiveness, the study highlights key advantages that matter for patients and health systems alike. BPaL/M is an all-oral regimen, requires a shorter treatment duration of approximately six months, and is associated with fewer severe toxicities than longer, injectable-based regimens. These characteristics improve the likelihood that patients can complete treatment and return to their daily lives sooner.

Indonesia, one of the world’s highest TB-burden countries, has been among the early adopters and implementers of BPaL/M, translating global recommendations into real-world practice. Findings from Tasikmalaya add to a growing body of local evidence supporting Indonesia’s leadership in adopting improved DR-TB care and demonstrate the benefits of timely access to newer regimens.

However, as this experience underscores, evidence alone is not enough. Ensuring that improved regimens reach people who need them requires sustained advocacy, community action, and accountability. Initiatives such as Fast Track the Cure play an essential role in supporting awareness, demand, and implementation—helping ensure that advances like BPaL/M deliver their full life-saving potential in Indonesia and around the world.