Cholesterol drug could boost TB treatment – new study tests best dose

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Sputum specimen positive for tubercle bacilli on Gene Xpert or direct smear microscopy * Either no previous anti-TB chemotherapy, or less than 2 weeks of previous chemotherapy * Aged 12years and above * A firm home address that is readily accessible for visiting * Agreement to participate in the study and to give a sample of blood for HIV testing * Normal baseline laboratory values at or within 14 days prior to screening: * Serum or plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) less than or equal to 3 times the upper limit of normal * Serum or plasma total bilirubin less than or equal to 2.5 times the upper limit of normal * Serum or plasma creatinine level less than or equal to 2 times the upper limit of normal * Serum or plasma potassium level greater than or equal to 3.5 meq/L * Hemoglobin level of 7.0 g/dL or greater * Platelet count of 100,000/mm3 or greater * Informed consent to participate in the study and to give a sample of blood for HIV testing Exclusion Criteria: * Participants known or suspected of having any form of drug resistance TB. * Patients co infected with HIV * Those with poor general condition where no delay in treatment can be tolerated * Evidence of clinically significant metabolic or co morbid medical conditions ; malignancy; or other diseases like history of or current cardiovascular disorder such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia. * Known or family history of bleeding disorders. * Any renal impairment characterized by serum creatinine clearance of 1.5 x upper limit of normal of the clinical laboratory reference range at screening. * Myositis and or Creatinine phosphokinase three times upper limit of normal * Patient in a moribund state * Has TB meningitis * Presence of any of the pre-existing non-TB diseases outlined in the protocol * Diabetes mellitus * Hypertension * Currently on anti TB medication * Any other chronic illness/ co morbidities that warrants being on daily routine medications * Presence of a psychiatric illness * pregnant, or breast feeding mothers * Current Tobacco Smokers/ tobacco use in any form * Alcoholism * alcoholic beverages, food or drinks containing methyl- xanthine (i.e. energy drinks, tea leaves, coffee beans, cocoa, kola nuts, medications e.g. theophylline). Ingestion of grapefruit/ products containing grapefruit juice, bitter oranges, garlic supplements, St John's Wort or other herbal supplements, within 7 days prior to the first treatment and throughout the study will not be allowed. * Individuals that are enrolled in other therapeutic clinical trials