TB Elimination

Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Bedaquiline

Introduction Recommended Dose
Bedaquiline fumarate (SirturoTM) is approved by the U.S. The recommended dose of bedaquiline for the treatment of
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as part of a pulmonary MDR TB in adults is:
combination therapy in adults with pulmonary multidrug-
resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) when an effective treatment •• Weeks 1 – 2: 400 mg (4 tablets of 100 mg) given orally,
regimen cannot otherwise be provided. once daily
The effectiveness and safety of this drug in different patient •• Weeks 3 – 24: 200 mg (2 tablets of 100 mg) three times
populations is unknown at this time. per week, for a total dose of 600 mg per week
For more detailed information, refer to the Provisional CDC Initiation and Discontinuation
Guidelines for the Use and Safety Monitoring of Bedaquiline
Bedaquiline is to be used for a period of 24 weeks.
Fumarate (Sirturo TM) for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant
Tuberculosis. •• Bedaquiline may be used on a case-by-case basis
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6209.pdf
for durations longer than 24 weeks when treatment
options are limited.
Dosage and Administration
This drug has a half-life of 4-5 months. Consider
Due to the potential for serious adverse events, discontinuing bedaquiline 4–5 months prior to discontinuing
bedaquiline is not recommended for all MDR TB patients. other drugs in the treatment regimen to reduce or avoid an
Patients treated with bedaquiline should be managed extended period of exposure to low levels of bedaquiline as
by, or in close consultation with, local health departments a single drug and subsequent acquired resistance.
and experts in the management of drug-resistant TB.
Administration
Bedaquiline may be used to treat adults (> 18 years) with All doses should be used in combination with at least three
a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary MDR TB. other anti-TB drugs to which the patient’s MDR TB isolate has
been shown to be susceptible through laboratory testing.
CAUTION: Bedaquiline may be considered for children,
Each dose should only be given by directly observed therapy
HIV-infected persons, pregnant women, persons with
(DOT) and with case management strategies to ensure
extrapulmonary TB, and persons with co-morbid conditions
treatment adherence. Each dose should be taken with food
on concomitant medications when an effective treatment
to maximize drug absorption.
regimen cannot otherwise be provided. Further study
is required before general use of bedaquiline can be Missed Doses
recommended in these populations.
If a dose is missed during the first 2 weeks of treatment,
patients should not be given the missed dose but should
Expert Clinical Consultation continue the usual dosing schedule. From Week 3 onwards,
Medical consultation is available through some state TB if a 200 mg dose is missed, patients should be given the
programs or CDC’s TB Regional Training and Medical missed dose as soon as possible, and then resume the 3
Consultation Centers (RTMCCs). times a week regimen. Do not exceed 600 mg in a 7-day
period of time.
Visit the CDC website to obtain contact information for
each RTMCC. Adverse Reactions
www.cdc.gov/tb/education/rtmc/default.htm
To date, adverse drug reactions associated with bedaquiline
Visit the CDC website to obtain contact information for include: •• Arthralgia (joint pain) / Myalgia
each state TB program office. •• Nausea / Vomiting (muscle pain)
www.cdc.gov/tb/links/tboffices.htm •• Dizziness •• Chest pain
•• Headache •• Anorexia, fatigue, dark or cola-
•• Hemoptysis colored urine, jaundice
•• Increased blood amylase
•• Increased serum transaminases
•• Rash

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
CS244433_A
Patient Counseling Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Patients should be advised: If bedaquiline is given with rifamycins or any other drugs that
•• To eat food before taking bedaquiline induce or suppress CYP3A4, monitoring of serum drug levels
should be performed to ensure adequate therapy and minimize
•• To abstain from alcohol and other hepatotoxic drugs the risk of acquired drug resistance.
•• To report any signs and symptoms of adverse drug
reactions to their health care provider Microbiologic Monitoring
Treatment should be accompanied by microbiologic monitoring
•• Of the potential benefits and harms of bedaquiline
with one sputum specimen submitted for culture monthly
•• That treatment non-adherence could result in treatment throughout and at the end of treatment, even after conversion
failure, relapse, or acquired drug resistance to negative culture.

Drug Interactions Monitoring for Additional Side Effects

Bedaquiline is metabolized through the cytochrome P450 Patients should also be assessed weekly for nausea, headache,
(CYP) system. Co-administration with rifamycins (e.g., rifampin, hemoptysis, chest pain, arthralgia, and rash. Monitoring for
rifapentine, and rifabutin) or other strong CYP3A4 inducers additional side effects should be tailored to the other drugs
should be avoided. used to treat the patient’s MDR TB.
Among the limited studies to date, no significant Patient Registry and Surveillance of Drug
pharmacokinetic interactions have been observed between Resistance
bedaquiline and the anti-TB drugs isoniazid, pyrazinamide,
ethambutol, kanamycin, ofloxacin, or cycloserine. As required by the FDA, a registry for persons treated with
bedaquiline will be maintained by Janssen Therapeutics to
Patient Monitoring track patient outcomes, adverse reactions, laboratory testing
Monitoring for Cardiac Toxicity results, use of concomitant medications, and presence of other
comorbid conditions. This registry will collect data prospectively
Bedaquiline can affect the heart’s electrical activity, which could
on all patients started on bedaquiline.
lead to an abnormal and potentially fatal heart rhythm. Patients
should be monitored for symptoms of cardiac toxicity and by Any monthly specimen that grows M. tuberculosis, including one
electrocardiogram (ECG). before treatment initiation with bedaquiline, should be referred
to a laboratory for surveillance of bedaquiline resistance in
•• Serum potassium, calcium, and magnesium should be
consultation with the state public health laboratory. CDC will
obtained at baseline and whenever clinically indicated,
assist in identifying a laboratory that can perform bedaquiline
especially if QTcF prolongation is detected.
susceptibility testing.
•• ECG should be obtained at baseline and repeated at least
2, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment is started. Suspected adverse reactions (i.e., any adverse event for which
there is a reasonable possibility that the drug caused the
•• Weekly ECGs are recommended for persons prescribed
adverse event) and serious adverse events (i.e., any adverse
bedaquiline and (1) other QTcF prolonging drugs
event which results in death, hospitalization, permanent
including fluorquinolones, macrolide antibacterial drugs,
disability, or a life-threatening situation) should be reported
and clofazimine; (2) have a history of Torsade de Pointes,
to Janssen Therapeutics (1-800-526-7736), the FDA
congenital long QTcF syndrome, hypothyroidism and
(1-800-332-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch), and to CDC’s
bradyarrhythmias, or uncompensated heart failure; or
Emergency Operations Center (1-770-488-7100).
(3) have serum calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels
below the lower limits of normal.
Additional Information
•• If syncope occurs, obtain an ECG to evaluate for QTcF
1. Provisional CDC Guidelines for the Use and Safety Monitoring
prolongation. of Bedaquiline Fumarate (Sirturo TM) for the Treatment of
Monitoring for Hepatotoxicity Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis. MMWR 2013; 62 (No. 9):
Hepatic-related adverse drug reactions have been reported with www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6209.pdf
the use of bedaquiline. Patients’ aspartate aminotransferase 2. Janssen Therapeutics. SirturoTM Webpage
(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, and alkaline www.sirturo.com/
phosphatase should be tested at baseline, monthly, and if
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. SIRTURO™ (bedaquiline)
symptomatic.
Tablets label. US Food and Drug Administration website.
Monitoring for Renal Toxicity http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/
Bedaquiline does not require dosage adjustment in patients ucm368240.htm.
with mild to moderate renal impairment (not requiring dialysis).
Use caution when administering bedaquiline to patients with
severe renal impairment requiring dialysis. Serum drug levels in
patients with renal impairment should be considered. Page 2 of 2
http://www.cdc.gov/tb