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Rifampicin alone
Rifampicin inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase, preventing transcription and blocking bacterial protein synthesis.
Rifampicin inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase, preventing transcription and blocking bacterial protein synthesis. Used for Tuberculosis (drug-susceptible), Leprosy, Atypical mycobacterial infections.
At a glance
| Generic name | Rifampicin alone |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Miguel Santín |
| Drug class | Rifamycin antibiotic |
| Target | Bacterial RNA polymerase β-subunit |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Rifampicin binds to the bacterial RNA polymerase β-subunit and inhibits RNA synthesis by blocking the path of the elongating RNA transcript. This mechanism is highly selective for bacterial RNA polymerase and has minimal effect on eukaryotic RNA polymerases, making it effective as an antibiotic. It is bactericidal and works against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Approved indications
- Tuberculosis (drug-susceptible)
- Leprosy
- Atypical mycobacterial infections
- Prophylaxis of meningococcal meningitis
- Brucellosis
Common side effects
- Hepatotoxicity
- Orange/red discoloration of body fluids
- Rash
- Gastrointestinal disturbance
- Thrombocytopenia
- Drug interactions (enzyme induction)
Key clinical trials
- Safety and Tolerability of Metformin in People With Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (PHASE2)
- Study of a Single Dose of Pretomanid Added to an Optimized Background Regimen in Children With Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis (PHASE1)
- A Study Evaluating the Effects of Itraconazole or Rifampin on the Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Rocbrutinib Tablet (PHASE1)
- Oral Antimicrobial Treatment vs. Outpatient Parenteral for Infective Endocarditis (PHASE4)
- Drug Interaction and Food Effect Study of CS0159 (PHASE1)
- Mechanical Bowel Preparation With or Without Oral Antibiotics in Left Sided Colorectal Cancer Surgery (NA)
- Study of the Effect of Rifampicin on the Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Multiple Doses of Cediranib in Patients With Solid Tumours (PHASE1)
- Start4All - Start Taking Action for TB Diagnosis (DARE-TB) (NA)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Rifampicin alone CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Rifampicin alone updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Miguel Santín portfolio CI