TDR, in close collaboration with the WHO Global TB Programme and technical partners, has developed an implementation/operational research package dubbed ShORRT (Short, all-Oral Regimens for Rifampicin-resistant Tuberculosis). This research package assesses the effectiveness, safety, feasibility, acceptability, cost and impact (including on quality of life) of the use of all-oral shorter drug regimens for patients with drug-resistant TB.
By providing a standardized methodology, ShORRT aims to facilitate operational research on all-oral shorter regimens for multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB by countries, and to generate data that are harmonized across different implementation settings.
ShORRT includes a master protocol, data collection tools and key study procedures that investigators can adapt. The generic protocol is currently available in English and French, and will soon also be available in Spanish and Portuguese. Data collection tools and key study procedures will be released early next year.
WHO’s “Rapid Communication: Key changes to the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis”, released in December 2019, encourages national TB control programmes and their stakeholders to solicit advice from WHO and technical partners before mounting operational research for modified shorter regimens, and points to ShORRT as a resource to facilitate such research.
TDR is currently providing technical support to the National TB Control Programmes of Benin, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria for the adaptation of ShORRT and the future implementation of their research projects. TDR is also engaging with other countries for potential support.
Evidence from this research can play a key role in informing programmatic implementation at the country level and also provide important data to the global TB community to strengthen the evidence base and inform drug-resistant TB treatment guidance.
For more information, contact Dr Corinne Merle.