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Globally, TB is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a public health crisis and a health security threat.1, 2

Drug-Resistant TB can Develop or be Acquired the Same way as Drug Susceptible TB—through Air.2

Bacteria can become resistant to any antibiotic due to inappropriate treatment, such as when it is interrupted or the medicine is used inappropriately.2 When the TB bacteria becomes resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, it is called MDR-TB.1

Treatment of drug-sensitive TB takes 4 to 6 months.2

Treatment of drug-resistant forms of TB can take 6 months or up to 20 months depending on the drug resistance profile of the patient.1, 2

Otsuka has had a TB medicine discovery programme for over 50 years and has been a recognised leader in TB research through its commitment to the development of new TB compounds as well as the building of a clinical infrastructure within developing countries affected by the disease.

Apart from continuing its research and development programme, Otsuka is also engaging in multiple third-party collaborations looking at shorter, more effective and more patient-friendly ways to fight MDR-TB.

We invite you to read more about Otsuka’s Global TB Programme here.

References

1. Global tuberculosis report 2025. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO
2. World Health Organization. Tuberculosis Factsheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis (Accessed 12 February 2026).

Information current as of March 2026
Reference ONP-DEL-2500005 v2.0