Pharmacologic considerations in use and development of antituberculosis drugs.

Rational development and deployment of antituberculosis drugs depend on a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics that underlie their clinical behavior. Successful implementation of a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic approach faces difficulties that, although not unique to tuberculosis as a therapeutic area, in combination pose a significant scientific challenge. In recent years, a multidisciplinary response combining new technological and analytical approaches has begun to directly address many of these issues, shedding light on some previously poorly understood aspects of drug distribution and response. These advances have important implications for optimization of existing and development of novel drug regimens, putting quantitative pharmacology at the heart of preclinical and early drug development.