In addition to the antimicrobial activity, both agents have been shown to induce apoptosis of activated lymphoid cells by downregulation of BCL‐xL,19 and azithromycin has also been reported to be a potent inhibitor of T‐cell function via inhibiting m‐TOR.15 As T‐cells play an important role in the development and maintenance of MALT lymphoma in patients with infection‐ or autoimmune‐triggered disease, these in vitro data along with the prolonged half‐life allowing for convenient dosing have prompted us to initiate the phase II MALT‐A study. The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is MALT lymphoma.