Ahead of March 24's World TB Day, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) has confirmed the biopharma industry's commitment to the World Health Organization (WHO) drive to eradicate tuberculosis and its campaign, “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”, focusing on building commitment at all levels of the community. An IFPMA press releases notes that the biopharmaceutical industry is contributing to the TB challenge with R&D measures to improve access to treatments and to find more effective, safer, all-oral regimens to treat all forms of TB, and new vaccines for adolescents and adults. There are now over 60 R&D projects for TB medicines and vaccines in the pipeline, including seven products in phase III clinical trials. Recent breakthroughs made by Johnson & Johnson and Otsuka (bedaquiline and delamanid) for the treatment of MDR-TB are illustrative of new approaches being taken by biopharma companies to make broadening sustainable and responsible access a priority. "2018 is a critical year for the global TB community", writes IFPMA, "culminating with the first ever UN High-Level Meeting on TB on September 26, 2018".
