The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, raising hopes of tackling the rapid rise of drug-resistant strains of the infection.
Gonorrhoea causes more than 82 million infections globally each year, with cases rising sharply in Europe and at record levels in England. The World Health Organization has listed it as a priority pathogen amid growing resistance to existing antibiotics.
One of the newly approved drugs, zoliflodacin (brand name Nuzolvence), cured more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea infections in clinical trials, matching the effectiveness of current treatments. A second drug, gepotidacin, developed by GSK, was also approved after proving effective against resistant strains.
WHO officials said the approvals were “timely” given increasing resistance and limited treatment options. Researchers described the development as a “huge turning point”, with zoliflodacin offering a single-dose oral alternative that could help slow resistance and improve access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Experts stressed the drugs provide hope but warned continued surveillance and responsible use will be essential to preserve their effectiveness.
