World TB Day 2005
Media Call with GlaxoSmithKline on Wednesday, March 23, 2005
(10:30 a.m. EST)
TB Alliance Announces New Drug Discovery Program with GlaxoSmithKline
Details of Partnership and World TB Day Update on New TB Therapies in Development
What:
Teleconference to provide overview on launch of broad discovery portfolio to improve the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The program significantly enhances the TB drug pipeline by adding several novel classes of compounds that use new mechanisms of action. Briefings from the TB Alliance on status of TB drug pipeline and discussion with GlaxoSmithKline, patient and public health groups. A Q&A session for journalists follows.
Who:
- Dr. Maria C. Freire, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
- Dr. Mel Spigelman, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development
- Dr. David Pompliano, GlaxoSmithKline
- Dr. Kenneth Castro, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Mark Harrington, Treatment Action Group (TAG)
When:
Wednesday, March 23, 2005, 10:30 AM EST
Why:
WHO estimates that 2 million people die from TB every year. The worsening TB crisis demands a new treatment paradigm based on novel drugs. This shift will only be possible with a robust and dynamic drug pipeline. The compounds from this discovery program may attack the bacillus in new ways, overcoming resistant strains and speeding time to cure. The TB Alliance’s objective is to develop an entirely new therapeutic regimen that will shorten and simplify treatment. A shorter TB regimen will improve patient compliance, increase cure rates and lower toxic side effects. A novel two-month TB regimen that is compatible with HIV treatment would help improve TB control and help in the fight on AIDS. The TB Alliance works to ensure that drugs are affordable, adopted by health practitioners and are accessible to patients who need them most.
Today’s TB treatment reaches less than half of TB patients and is difficult to complete due to its complexity and length (four drugs for 6-9 months). Resistant strains have emerged and practically defy treatment with strains resistant to three of the four first-line drugs. TB is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS, but simultaneous TB-HIV treatment is complicated by drug-drug interactions between some anti-HIV and existing TB drugs.
The TB Alliance has united leading researchers, industry actors, and public health advocates to realize the first, most comprehensive TB drug pipeline since the 1960s.
Contact:
Brenda Timm - +1 (212) 704-4593 – brenda.timm@edelman.com
Denielle Sachs +1 (212) 227-7540 ext 202 – denielle.sachs@tballiance.org