An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Volume 394, Issue 8, Pages 818-819) describes the results of a phase 2a clinical trial that provided the first clinical proof of concept for the combination of alpibectir with ethionamide (AlpE) in the treatment of tuberculosis.[1][3] The study was conducted in the Republic of South Africa in collaboration with BioVersys, TASK and GSK and included a 7-day assessment of earlier bacterial activity.[1][3] Alpibectir is a small molecule with a novel mechanism of action that enhances the activity of the existing cheap and safe antibiotic ethionamide and helps overcome resistance.[1][4][5] The combination of AlpE makes ethionamide stronger and better tolerated by patients.[1] The results suggest the potential of AlpE as a replacement for isoniazid in first-line therapy or in future regimens, particularly in tuberculous meningitis.[1][3][4] The project was created in collaboration with GSK, the Pasteur Institute of Lille and the University of Lille and received funding from the EU and the Wellcome Trust.[1] Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases, with growing resistance threatening existing treatments.[1][3]