New collaboration aims to advance innovation for a neglected and stigmatizing disease affecting hundreds of thousands worldwide
NEW YORK (January 30, 2026)—Nonprofit drug developer, TB Alliance, today announced a new collaboration with Novartis, a global pharmaceutical company with significant knowledge and experience in the field of leprosy. Novartis will provide scientific and strategic advice to TB Alliance on the research and development of telacebec, a novel investigational compound, for the treatment of leprosy.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves and, if left untreated, can lead to lifelong disability, stigma, and social exclusion. Although effective multidrug therapy has been available for decades, leprosy remains a public health challenge. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 200,000 new cases are reported globally each year, largely in low- and middle-income countries, underscoring the need for continued innovation, investment, and partnerships to improve treatment options and accelerate progress toward reducing the global burden of disease.
“We believe the true promise of science lies in its ability to deliver meaningful impact for people affected by neglected diseases around the world,” said Mel Spigelman, MD, President and CEO, TB Alliance. “Telacebec has already demonstrated encouraging potential across multiple mycobacterial diseases, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer. Through this collaboration with Novartis, we are excited to build on that scientific promise and advance research toward a new, better treatment option for leprosy – one that could improve outcomes for people who have been overlooked for far too long.”
This collaboration complements the commercial partnership announced today by TB Alliance and Lupin Ltd under which Lupin will manufacture and distribute telacebec globally for the treatment of tuberculosis, Buruli ulcer, and leprosy.
Over the last 25 years, Novartis has provided 77 million blister packs of multidrug therapy through the World Health Organization at no cost, treating more than 8.3 million people and contributing to a 96% reduction in global leprosy prevalence since 1980.
“Eliminating leprosy has been a part of our company’s history since introducing the first effective cure more than four decades ago,” said Dr Sujata Vaidyanathan, Head of Global Health Development at Novartis. “We are pleased to be going further with the TB Alliance, supporting a new era of innovation to help finally defeat this ancient disease.”
This announcement comes on World NTD Day to help raise awareness for neglected tropical diseases like leprosy, underscoring the continued need for innovation, investment, and partnership to accelerate progress toward better treatments and ultimately the elimination of these diseases.
About Telacebec
Telacebec (Q203) is a novel, first-in-class investigational compound being developed by TB Alliance for the treatment of multiple mycobacterial diseases, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer. TB Alliance in-licensed telacebec from Qurient under a worldwide license (except for South Korea, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries), enabling the nonprofit organization to advance the compound’s development with a focus on public health impact and access. Telacebec works by targeting mycobacterial energy production, disrupting a critical pathway required for bacterial survival. Preclinical studies, which included scientific support from Novartis, have demonstrated potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. These findings support the continued clinical development of telacebec as a potential new treatment option for diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations worldwide.
About TB Alliance
TB Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding faster-acting and affordable drug regimens to fight TB. Through innovative science and with partners around the globe, we aim to ensure equitable access to faster, better TB cures that will advance global health and prosperity. TB Alliance operates with support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (United Kingdom), Gates Foundation, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) through KfW, Global Disease Eradication Fund (South Korea), Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Korea International Cooperation Agency, MedAccess, Raoul Follerau Foundation, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United States Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), United States Department of State, United States National Institutes for Health – National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), United States National Institutes for Health – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and Unitaid. For more information, please visit: www.tballiance.org.