Debra Flood (Hanna)
Senior Program Officer, TB Drug Discovery, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Help halt the TB pandemic with shorter, simpler and more effective cures. Unlock the future of treatment with pan-TB regimens that can cure all forms of TB, including drug-resistant strains.
While new drugs have emerged in recent years, successfully treating TB remains a complex challenge. Existing regimens require months of adherence, placing a heavy burden on patients and healthcare systems, especially in the low and middle-income countries most affected by TB. Further complicating matters is the growing threat of drug resistance, demanding even longer and harsher treatments with significant side effects.
Finding a treatment pathway for all
There’s a beacon of hope: so-called pan-TB regimens with little to no drug resistance. Pan-TB regimens could create a treatment pathway for all people diagnosed with TB that is better-tolerated, shorter in duration and simpler to use than existing options.
Imagine the impact: reduced burden on healthcare systems and people undergoing treatment, simplified treatment pathways and potentially higher cure rates. Drug susceptibility testing would no longer be a prerequisite for treatment. This would allow for streamlined processes and save lives.
Innovative partnership is driving progress
However, developing such revolutionary tools requires collective effort. No single organisation produces the full range of drugs needed to treat all forms of TB, and novel regimens will take many years to develop if we follow the business as usual. This is where the PAN-TB Collaboration plays a crucial role.
Pan-TB regimens could create a treatment pathway for
all people diagnosed with TB that is better-tolerated,
shorter in duration and simpler to use than existing options.
This unique partnership brings together pharmaceutical industry giants with nonprofit partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Gates Medical Research Institute. Each member contributes their unique expertise and resources, creating a powerhouse for innovation. By pooling knowledge, data and cutting-edge technology, the Collaboration is accelerating the discovery and development of pan-TB treatments.
Accelerating novel TB treatment
The collaborative work is already paying dividends. The PAN-TB Collaboration’s first phase 2 clinical trial is underway in South Africa and the Philippines with two novel drug combinations. This is a significant step towards making the dream of pan-TB regimens a reality.
However, the journey is far from over. Continued investment and support are crucial to sustain this momentum. We must recognise the urgency of combating TB and the transformative potential of innovative TB regimens. Through collective efforts like PAN-TB, we can ensure that the fight against TB is dramatically accelerated, fuelled by the power of innovation and collaboration.