Combating a Dual Epidemic

AIDS and tuberculosis treatments can not be fully integrated without new TB drugs

November 30, 2009

On World AIDS Day, it is important to recognize the tragedy of HIV/AIDS, the millions of lives that it has claimed, economic hardship it has caused, and communities it has fractured. However, it is also important to acknowledge the incredible progress made toward diagnosing, treating, and removing the stigma associated with the disease.

While considering the impact of and progress against HIV/AIDS, we must not forget the relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and the AIDS epidemic. TB is the leading cause of death among AIDS patients and approximately 25% of TB deaths occur in HIV-positive patients.

Despite the fact that these two diseases are so closely related, HIV and TB treatment are not sufficiently integrated throughout the world. In fact, today’s first-line TB therapy is difficult to administer with some of the antiretrovirals (ARVs) most commonly used to treat HIV/AIDS. Therefore, even if treatment systems attempt to integrate testing and treatment of TB and HIV, co-infected patients must often choose to take treatment for only one of the two diseases. New TB drugs are desperately needed to improve the treatment of co-infected patients.

The research and development of new and improved tools to treat both TB and AIDS must continue to be financed. Decreased funding for either of the diseases will open the door for a reversal of the progress we have worked so hard to achieve against both epidemics. Efforts to reverse these epidemics are more than a matter of health and humanitarianism; they are also crucial for economic development.

To fight TB is to fight HIV, and vice versa. Only with continued global support and through synergistic relationships can both fights be won. We encourage those who support TB R&D to support and advocate for the much needed development to improve the diagnosis and treatment of those with HIV/AIDS. And, we encourage those who identify themselves as supporters of HIV/AIDS research to do the same for tuberculosis.

- Mel Spigelman, M.D.

President & CEO TB Alliance