New Trial Results: “SPaL” Regimen Continues to Show Promise as a Shorter, Simpler, People-Centered TB Treatment

Recently released results of the NC-009 trial represent an important step forward in the global effort to develop shorter and more effective treatment options for tuberculosis. Conducted across 22 sites in South Africa, the Philippines, Georgia, Tanzania, and Uganda, the Phase 2 study evaluated a novel regimen combining sorfequiline (formerly TBAJ-876) with pretomanid and linezolid — known as the SPaL regimen. Early findings indicate that SPaL demonstrates stronger antibacterial activity than the current HRZE standard of care for drug-sensitive TB, while maintaining a comparable safety profile.

For the Fast Track the Cure community and partners working to promote person-centered TB care, these findings reinforce the promise of next-generation regimens that simplify and shorten treatment for patients. The success of BPaL/M has already shown how innovative, all-oral therapies can transform care for drug-resistant TB, reducing treatment length and burden while offering improved tolerability. Building on that progress, the SPaL regimen suggests the possibility of even greater reductions in treatment length and burden, as well as potential to be used in drug-sensitive TB as well — a critical step toward more accessible, patient-aligned care across all forms of the disease.

Shorter, easier-to-manage treatment would reduce the daily impact of TB therapy on individuals and families, helping people receiving treatment stay engaged in care with fewer disruptions to work, school, and daily responsibilities. The NC-009 results underscore what becomes possible when scientific innovation and the principles of people-centered care move forward together.

While additional research — including a planned Phase 3 trial — will be essential to confirm these findings, the momentum is encouraging. The Fast Track the Cure community remains committed to supporting continued progress and ensuring that emerging tools and regimens ultimately reach the people who need them most.