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TB Drug Accelerator Program

Active Since: 2012

Multi-Company Partnership

Contributing to SDGs…

Aiming to speed up the discovery and development of novel compounds against tuberculosis (TB).

MEMBER COMPANIES

PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

  • Academia or research institute

    Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)

    Texas A&M University

    Weill Medical College, Cornell University

    University of Dundee

    University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

    University of Cape Town

    Calibr (The California Institute for Biomedical Research)

    University of Colorado

  • Global NGOs

    Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance)

  • Government

    US National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  • Pharma (Non-IFPMA Member)

    Evotec

  • Private foundation or development organization

    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Objectives

  • The TB Drug Accelerator Programme aims to speed up the discovery and development of novel compounds against tuberculosis (TB).

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.

Quote
We seek a common goal to give patients and physicians significantly more effective treatments for TB and drug-resistant TB. Without new regimens, we cannot stop this global pandemic.
Mel Spigelman, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer, TB Alliance

SDGs THE PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTES TO

SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing

  1. 3.3: Communicable Diseases & NTDs
  2. 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EXTERNAL RESEARCH

Geographic Reach

Global Commitment

Disease Area

Infectious and Parasitic Disease

  • Tuberculosis
  • Drug-Resistant Infections (AMR)