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Rifampicin (RIF)
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 (TB), including drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant TB, Leprosy (Hansen's disease), Atypical mycobacterial infections (MAC, M. marinum).
At a glance
| Generic name | Rifampicin (RIF) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
| Drug class | Rifamycin antibiotic |
| Target | Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Infectious Disease |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Rifampicin binds to the bacterial RNA polymerase enzyme and blocks the path of elongating RNA transcripts, effectively halting bacterial gene expression. This mechanism is highly selective for prokaryotic RNA polymerase and has minimal effect on eukaryotic enzymes. The drug is bactericidal and is particularly effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacterial species.
Approved indications
- Tuberculosis (TB), including drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant TB
- Leprosy (Hansen's disease)
- Atypical mycobacterial infections (MAC, M. marinum)
- Brucellosis
- Legionellosis
Common side effects
- Hepatotoxicity
- Orange/red discoloration of body fluids
- Rash
- Gastrointestinal disturbance
- Thrombocytopenia
- Drug-drug interactions (enzyme induction)
Key clinical trials
- Safety and Tolerability of Metformin in People With Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (PHASE2)
- Shortened Regimen for Drug-susceptible TB in Children (PHASE3)
- Study of a Single Dose of Pretomanid Added to an Optimized Background Regimen in Children With Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis (PHASE1)
- An Adaptive Multi-arm Trial to Improve Clinical Outcomes Among Children Recovering From Complicated SAM (PHASE3)
- Trial of Novel Regimens for the Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PHASE2)
- AIPH-TB: AI-Optimised Pyrazinamide-Hydroxychloroquine vs Standard RIPE for Drug-Sensitive Pulmonary Tuberculosis - A Phase II RCT (PHASE2)
- A Study Evaluating the Effects of Itraconazole or Rifampin on the Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Rocbrutinib Tablet (PHASE1)
- A Phase 1/2 Study to Evaluate the Safety, PK and Efficacy of TNP-2092 Administered Via IA Injection in PJI Participants (PHASE1, PHASE2)
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 (RIF) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Rifampicin (RIF) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) portfolio CI