Rifapentine is a semisynthetic antibiotic belonging to the rifamycin class, developed as a long-acting derivative of rifampicin. It was introduced to improve treatment adherence due to its longer half-life. Rifapentine works by inhibiting DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in susceptible bacteria. It is primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The drug is especially important in latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) therapy. Rifapentine is often used in combination with other anti-TB drugs to prevent resistance. A common use is the once-weekly regimen with isoniazid for latent TB. It is also used in certain active TB treatment regimens. Rifapentine helps reduce treatment duration compared to older therapies. Overall, it plays a significant role in modern tuberculosis control programs.
