FDA Approves Two New Antibiotics to Fight Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea
The US has approved two new antibiotics to combat gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection growing harder to treat. The move comes as cases rise and drug resistance spreads. Both drugs offer fresh options for patients with limited alternatives.
In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) greenlit zoliflodacin (Nuzolvence) and gepotidacin (Blujepa) for gonorrhea treatment. Zoliflodacin is a single-dose oral medicine for adults and adolescents aged 12 and above who weigh at least 77 pounds. Gepotidacin, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is also taken orally but targets urogenital infections in those 12 and older weighing over 99 pounds.
The FDA’s approval of zoliflodacin and gepotidacin provides doctors with more tools against gonorrhea. These oral treatments expand options for patients who may not respond to existing therapies. The decision highlights the urgency of addressing rising infection rates and antibiotic resistance.
