Could fewer antibiotics be better for MAC lung disease?

NCT ID NCT03672630

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Kevin Winthrop Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether taking two antibiotics instead of three is just as effective for treating a lung infection called MAC, while causing fewer side effects. 474 adults with MAC lung disease were randomly assigned to receive either two or three drugs for 12 months. The goal was to see if the two-drug regimen could clear the infection and be easier to tolerate.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Azithromycin, Ethambutol, Rifampin

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that a two-drug regimen works as well as three drugs, with fewer side effects for patients with MAC lung disease.

What could go wrong

This is a completed Phase 2/3 trial, but results may not apply to all patients, and reducing drugs could lower effectiveness in some cases.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

mycobacterial infectious disease Mycobacterium avium complex disease Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MYCOBACTERIUM AVIUM COMPLEX NONTUBERCULOUS MYCOBACTERIUM INFECTION

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Columbia University Medical Center

New York, New York, 10032, United States
Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817, United States
Loma Linda University Medical Center

Loma Linda, California, 92354, United States
Louisina State University

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, United States
Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
National Jewish Health

Denver, Colorado, 80206, United States
New York University

New York, New York, 10016, United States
Northwell Health

Manhasset, New York, 11030, United States
Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States
Stanford University

Stanford, California, 94305, United States
Tampa VA Medical Center

Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States
University Health Network

Toronto, Ontario, M5T2S8, Canada
University of California, San Diego

San Diego, California, 92103, United States
University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94110, United States
University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
University of Kansas

Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
University of Miami

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
University of Texas Health Science Center

Tyler, Texas, 75708, United States
University of Washington

Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States
Vancouver Clinic

Vancouver, Washington, 98664, United States