A Perspective into "TEL"-Tenofovir, Emtricitabine and Lamivudine Antileprotic Activities by Drug Repurposing and Exploring the Possibility of Combination Chemotherapy with Drug Rescued Molecules for a Leprosy Free Mankind.

Background: Since leprosy bacilli cannot grow in vitro, testing for antimicrobial resistance against Mycobacterium leprae or assessing the anti-leprosy activity of new drugs remains hard. Furthermore, developing a new leprosy drug through the traditional drug development process is not economically captivating for pharmaceutical companies. As a result, repurposing existing drugs/approved medications or their derivatives to test their anti-leprotic potency is a promising alternative.