Global partnership to expand access to multi-drug resistant TB drugs

In preparation for World TB day March 24th, the Stop TB Partnership and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. have come together to provide developing countries access to delamanid and bedaquiline, two drugs that may drastically improve treatment outcomes for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, according to a recent press release.

“We are committed to enhancing access to delamanid, especially in high burden countries, while ensuring responsible use of this medicine,” Masuhiro Yoshitake, executive operating officer of Otsuka and TB Global Project Leader, said in the press release. “This public–private partnership with Stop TB is another step forward toward realizing the goal of TB elimination.”

Stop TB’s mission is to create a TB-free world by treating every affected person with proper diagnosis and the highest-quality treatment. The 2016 Stop TB Partnership campaign, “Unite to End TB” is available in six languages, and aims to bring people together irrespective of nationality, age, sex or profession to end TB, as stated on the Stop TB Partnership website.

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) are increasing globally, with almost half a million people affected each year; and of those diagnosed, only 50% are successfully treated. MDR-TB treatment can last two years or more, is extremely expensive and toxic, compared with drug susceptible TB.

Coordinated programs are necessary for WHO to reach their goal to end TB as a global health threat by 2035; and Stop TB Partnership’s goal to make disease incidence less than 1 per million by 2050.

Delamanid will be supplied at a price of US $1700 for a full six-month treatment with congenital services provided by Stop TB Partnership. Countries eligible for treatment financing will have access to delamanid through Global Drug Facility (GDF), the largest purchaser of TB medicines for more than 100 countries. GDF works with public and private sectors to distribute TB innovations to those who need them.

“GDF plays a pivotal role in the global bedaquiline access program by virtue of its global reach, provision of quality assured drugs and stewardship of responsible access,” Ross Underwood, Global Access Commercial leader from Janssen, said in the release. “We are pleased to see that GDF will expand patient access to much needed treatment options and look forward to continue working together to our mutual goal of eradicating TB.”

The Stop TB and Otsuka partnership was announced in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 24. Experts from the Stop TB Partnerhip’s GDF, TB survivors, WHO Geneva, Otsuka, Janssen, and others gathered to discuss how GDF and partners can work best to increase access to these new drugs for drug-resistant TB as quickly and safely as possible.

“I think that as a TB community we need speed and a different mindset: we have two new drugs that can improve MDR- and XDR-TB treatment outcomes. We need to make sure that these are used by all those who need them — responsibly and safely — but we must move on.” Lucica Ditiu, MD, executive director of the Stop TB Partnership, said in the release. “We spoke about a paradigm shift in the Global Plan — this is one of the many steps we will do as Stop TB to accelerate our advance toward ending TB.” — by Taylor Groff

Disclaimer: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.