We’re proud to share that Evotec played a key role in a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications, in collaboration with leading institutions including Janssen Pharmaceutica, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Colorado State University, Sorbonne Université, and University of Cape Town.

The paper explores the potential of cytochrome bc1 inhibitors as novel components of future tuberculosis (TB) treatment regimens. These compounds, such as JNJ-2901 and Telacebec, target the respiratory chain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and demonstrated remarkable ability to enhance sterilizing activity, reduce relapse rates, and significantly shorten treatment duration in preclinical models. Notably, regimens combining cytochrome bc1 inhibitors with bedaquiline and clofazimine achieved relapse-free cure in as little as 12 weeks, paving the way for ultra-short TB therapies.

Evotec’s in vivo pharmacology team contributed to critical relapse model studies that validated the role of cytochrome bc1 inhibitors in multidrug-resistant and drug-sensitive TB regimens. These findings underscore the importance of innovative strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve patient outcomes globally.

This work highlights the power of collaboration and the promise of new mechanisms of action in TB drug discovery.