2017 Stakeholders Association Meeting
The Stakeholders Association (SHA) of the TB Alliance held its annual meeting on Tuesday, October 10, ahead of the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Guadalajara, Mexico. Today, the development of new drugs for all forms of tuberculosis (TB) is at the forefront of efforts to end what is now the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance demand a strong global commitment to advancing the next generation of TB therapies. At this year’s meeting, participants discussed recent progress and offered insights into TB Alliance’s efforts to introduce novel drug regimens that can effectively treat every person with TB, including those with the most resistant forms.
SHA President Karl Hofmann opened the meeting. His remarks highlighted how new TB drug regimens have the potential to realize the goals of the SHA to end the TB pandemic and support TB Alliance’s mission to develop improved TB drugs and make them available to all who need them.
“TB is due for accelerated progress, catching up to the progress against other priority infectious killers that we have witnessed in recent years,” said Hofmann. “Our partnerships will be more important than ever if we are to realize this opportunity and overcome our challenges.”
SHA Community Representative Maurine Murenga followed Hofmann, emphasizing the importance of forging strong partnerships with communities. “Without informed and empowered community involvement we cannot have effective clinical studies,” said Murenga. “Stakeholders engagement, including communities, should be an integral part of new protocols being put in place.”
In his State of the TB Alliance address, TB Alliance President and C.E.O. Dr. Mel Spigelman provided an update on progress made over the past year, speaking to the organization’s vision for the future of TB treatment. Spigelman touched on progress made in drug discovery, including the announcement of two new phase 1 clinical trials, progress in the global availability of new pediatric formulations for children, and the potential of two new drug regimens – BPaL and BPaMZ – to treat every person with TB.
“We are on the verge of transforming the landscape of TB therapy,” said Spigelman, noting that “this will require engagement of a large number of partners” and “huge amounts of resources” to bring to fruition.
Download Mel Spigelman's PowerPoint Presentation
A question and answer session followed Spigelman’s remarks. Stakeholders voiced optimistic views on recent progress made in TB drug discovery. Participants also acknowledged the challenges present in regulatory environment and the need for firm WHO recommendations in order to facilitate the introduction and delivery of the new and improved TB medicines.
In keeping with the 2017 Union Conference’s theme of “Accelerating Toward Elimination,” Spigelman urged that “we overcome mistakes of the past by not waiting to have a product in hand, that the time to engage and prepare for [product introduction] is now.”
In a keynote address following the question and answer session, UN Special Envoy on Tuberculosis Dr. Eric Goosby echoed the sense of urgency, saying that "we are committed to getting this to finish line.”
A panel session on addressing access barriers to novel regimens capped off the meeting. It featured presentations from Dr. Alena Skrahina, scientific director, Research Centre for TB, Minsk, Belarus; Dr. Norbert Ndjeka, director, drug-resistant TB, TB & HIV, MOH, South Africa; Dr. Catharina Boehme, CEO, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics; and Dr. Christy Hanson: senior program officer, TB, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Download Alena Skrahina's PowerPoint Presentation
Download Norbert Ndjeka's PowerPoint Presentation
Download Catharina Boehme's PowerPoint Presentation
Download Christy Hanson's PowerPoint Presentation
Dr. Goosby joined the panelists in discussing a range of issues connected to access, including the impact of current DR-TB treatment on patients; treatment challenges in settings with high levels of drug resistance; the transformative potential of novel regimens coupled with patient-centered diagnostic strategies; and the significant funding gaps that continue to impede progress.
If you would like your organization to become a member of the TB Alliance Stakeholder Association, please find the application here.
The next Annual Meeting of the Stakeholders Association will take place in fall 2018. Additional information will be made available closer to the event.
Please contact SHA@tballiance.org for more information about the Stakeholders Association, and view the current membership here.