A single-dose oral medication called zoliflodacin shows promise as a new treatment for antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, according to a Phase III trial published in The Lancet.

The study found that one dose of zoliflodacin was as effective as the current standard treatment, which combines two antibiotics: an injection of ceftriaxone followed by an oral dose of azithromycin.

Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, affecting over 82 million people globally each year. However, it is increasingly difficult to treat as the bacteria that cause infection develop resistance to current antibiotics. This new medication has the potential to help slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and make gonorrhea treatment more accessible worldwide.