TB Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of new, faster-acting and affordable tuberculosis
medicines.
The TB Alliance expects to register a new anti-TB regimen that could cut the duration of tuberculosis treatment
one-third by 2013. In the long-term, the TB Alliance’s goal is to develop a drug regimen that will reduce TB treatment to 10 doses from 130; be effective against drug resistant strains of TB; work with the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV
; and improve the treatment of latent TB infection.
infects one third of the world’s population, kills two million people each year, and costs the global economy $16 billion annually. However, research and development for new TB drugs came to a virtual standstill after the 1960s. Today, a four drug combination therapy exists, but it takes six months or more to be effective. This requires a degree of monitoring (See Direct Observational Therapy, Shortcourse) beyond the capacity of the health infrastructure in many countries; adequate TB treatment is available to less than half of the most infectious cases. This can inhibit control of the disease and fuel the rise of drug resistance
. TB is also the number one killer of AIDS
patients, but it is generally agreed that current TB treatments do not work well with the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV.
The TB drug market lacks sufficient financial incentives to stimulate a single private pharmaceutical company
to invest in the new research required to sustain a treatment pipeline. The TB epidemic
is concentrated in developing countries where drugs must be low in cost to remain accessible. It does not generate the kind of revenue streams that private companies usually deem necessary to justify the research costs and strategic risks involved in pharmaceuticals. The TB Alliance was designed to be the primary instrument to fill this vacuum and to ensure that new anti-TB drugs are affordable and accessible in endemic countries.
, South Africa
, where 120 representatives from academia, industry, major government agencies, non-governmental organizations and donors gathered to discuss the problems of tuberculosis treatment. Participants stressed the need for faster-acting, novel TB drugs and highlighted the scientific opportunities involved. The resulting "Declaration of Cape Town" provided a road map for TB drug development and outlined the need for creation of the TB Alliance. Maria Freire
was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer and President in 2001 and served in that capacity until 2008, when she left the TB Alliance to become President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The current CEO and President is Melvin Spigelman.
. It operates like a virtual biotechnology
firm, collaborating with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies so that risks and incentives are shared. While retaining management oversight of its drug development projects, the TB Alliance out-sources the development of potential drugs to public and private partners, providing funding and scientific guidance. Depending on the project, the TB Alliance either co-invests and co-develops a project, funds and manages it directly, or in-licenses the technology
or intellectual property
involved. Project diversity is a stated goal, with potentials compounds selected from a variety of chemical classes, with a wide-range of targets within the TB organism, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
As of January, 2009, the TB Alliance has 16 drug projects underway, either in either discovery or clinical or phase. Part of the TB Alliance’s stated mission is to ensure that any new treatments are affordable and accessible in the developing world, and that they are adopted as soon as they become available. Pricing terms are included in all licensing contracts and end products are designed to be easy to take. The TB Alliance also collaborates with national and international partners, working to ensure that new therapies are adopted and accessible to healthcare providers and patients via local channels.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
medicines.
The TB Alliance expects to register a new anti-TB regimen that could cut the duration of tuberculosis treatment
Tuberculosis treatment
Tuberculosis treatment refers to the medical treatment of the infectious disease tuberculosis .The standard "short" course treatment for TB is isoniazid, rifampicin , pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for two months, then isoniazid and rifampicin alone for a further four months...
one-third by 2013. In the long-term, the TB Alliance’s goal is to develop a drug regimen that will reduce TB treatment to 10 doses from 130; be effective against drug resistant strains of TB; work with the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
; and improve the treatment of latent TB infection.
Background
TuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
infects one third of the world’s population, kills two million people each year, and costs the global economy $16 billion annually. However, research and development for new TB drugs came to a virtual standstill after the 1960s. Today, a four drug combination therapy exists, but it takes six months or more to be effective. This requires a degree of monitoring (See Direct Observational Therapy, Shortcourse) beyond the capacity of the health infrastructure in many countries; adequate TB treatment is available to less than half of the most infectious cases. This can inhibit control of the disease and fuel the rise of drug resistance
Drug resistance
Drug resistance is the reduction in effectiveness of a drug such as an antimicrobial or an antineoplastic in curing a disease or condition. When the drug is not intended to kill or inhibit a pathogen, then the term is equivalent to dosage failure or drug tolerance. More commonly, the term is used...
. TB is also the number one killer of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients, but it is generally agreed that current TB treatments do not work well with the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV.
The TB drug market lacks sufficient financial incentives to stimulate a single private pharmaceutical company
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
to invest in the new research required to sustain a treatment pipeline. The TB epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
is concentrated in developing countries where drugs must be low in cost to remain accessible. It does not generate the kind of revenue streams that private companies usually deem necessary to justify the research costs and strategic risks involved in pharmaceuticals. The TB Alliance was designed to be the primary instrument to fill this vacuum and to ensure that new anti-TB drugs are affordable and accessible in endemic countries.
History
The TB Alliance was conceived at a February 2000 meeting in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where 120 representatives from academia, industry, major government agencies, non-governmental organizations and donors gathered to discuss the problems of tuberculosis treatment. Participants stressed the need for faster-acting, novel TB drugs and highlighted the scientific opportunities involved. The resulting "Declaration of Cape Town" provided a road map for TB drug development and outlined the need for creation of the TB Alliance. Maria Freire
Maria Freire
Maria C. Freire, Ph.D., is President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, and is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health.-Career:...
was appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer and President in 2001 and served in that capacity until 2008, when she left the TB Alliance to become President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The current CEO and President is Melvin Spigelman.
Program
The TB Alliance is a non-profit public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
. It operates like a virtual biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
firm, collaborating with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies so that risks and incentives are shared. While retaining management oversight of its drug development projects, the TB Alliance out-sources the development of potential drugs to public and private partners, providing funding and scientific guidance. Depending on the project, the TB Alliance either co-invests and co-develops a project, funds and manages it directly, or in-licenses the technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
or intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
involved. Project diversity is a stated goal, with potentials compounds selected from a variety of chemical classes, with a wide-range of targets within the TB organism, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacterial species in the genus Mycobacterium and the causative agent of most cases of tuberculosis . First discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch, M...
.
As of January, 2009, the TB Alliance has 16 drug projects underway, either in either discovery or clinical or phase. Part of the TB Alliance’s stated mission is to ensure that any new treatments are affordable and accessible in the developing world, and that they are adopted as soon as they become available. Pricing terms are included in all licensing contracts and end products are designed to be easy to take. The TB Alliance also collaborates with national and international partners, working to ensure that new therapies are adopted and accessible to healthcare providers and patients via local channels.