Sterilizing activity of thioridazine in combination with the first-line regimen against acute murine tuberculosis.

We recently reported that in lung tissue, thioridazine accumulates at high concentrations relative to serum levels, displaying modest synergy with isoniazid and reducing the emergence of isoniazid-resistant mutants in mouse lungs. In this study, we sought to investigate the sterilizing activity of human-equivalent doses of thioridazine when given in combination with the "Denver regimen" against acute murine tuberculosis. We found a trend toward a positive impact of thioridazine on the bacterial clearance and lowering relapse rates of the combined standard TB chemotherapy.