Health need and challenges the partnership is targeting

Despite significant progress in combatting tuberculosis (TB), TB B is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent. According to WHO, in 2017, TB caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths among HIV-negative people and there were an additional 300,000 deaths from TB among HIV-positive people. Globally, the best estimate is that 10.0 million people developed TB disease in 2017. It is estimated that one-quarter of the global population has latent tuberculosis infection, of whom approximately 10% will develop active pulmonary tuberculosis disease. In recent years, the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB and extensively drug-resistant TB has increased pressure to urgently control the disease and epidemic, particularly in countries with a high rate of HIV. As a result of years of inadequate diagnosis and treatment, these types of drug-resistant TB are more difficult and costlier to treat, highlighting the urgent need for new, better, faster-acting treatments.

Partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges

Launched in August 2012, TB Drug Accelerator (TBDA) is a ground-breaking partnership between pharmaceutical companies and research organizations with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Aided by nearly U.S. $20 million (approx. €16.5 million) from the Gates Foundation, the TBDA aims to develop new pre-clinical drug candidates with treatment-shortening potential and provide proof-of-concept for a one-month three-drug regime, by 2022.

The long-term goal of the TBDA is to create a TB drug regimen that cures patients in only one month, rather than the 6 months now needed for treatment.

Eli Lilly and Company is a former member of this initiative.