CPTR initiative expands focus to include drug susceptibility tests
The Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens (CPTR) initiative, a collaboration launched by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Critical Path Institute, and TB Alliance that aims to speed the development of improved drug regimens for tuberculosis (TB), has announced the expansion of the initiative to include aiding and enabling the development of new rapid tests to determine drug susceptibility. This initiative will become the fourth principle focus area of CPTR, joining the Research Resources Group, Drugs Coalition, and Regulatory Science consortium. Together, these key pillar focus areas will help to facilitate the rapid development and introduction of new TB drug regimens.
“The development of new drug regimens is the ultimate goal of CPTR,” says Martha Brumfield, President and CEO, Critical Path Institute. “Just as important is to assure their appropriate use in the post-approval setting which is inextricably linked to the ability to robustly ascertain individual patient-level drug susceptibility in a timely manner. Coordinated efforts are needed to ensure that these complementary novel tools can improve patient outcomes.”
Although it is often thought of as a disease of the past, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. TB kills approximately 1.4 million people each year, mainly in developing countries. The treatment requires patients to take pills, and in some cases injections, for six months to two years. Many patients are unable to complete treatment, and administering such treatment imposes a large burden on health programs around the world. These drawbacks contribute to the rise of drug resistance, which can render current treatments ineffective and present new, more difficult, and deadly challenges to efforts to cure and control TB.
Today, drug-susceptibility testing is becoming more commonplace, but the available tests are still inadequate to ensure all patients are given the right regimen. By including TB Drug Susceptibility Tests among its focus areas, CPTR affords unprecedented collaboration among partners. The availability of drug susceptibility tests and novel drug regimens will help limit the emergence of drug resistance and ensure the greatest number of patients can benefit from new and better treatments.
“CPTR’s expansion to include drug susceptibility tests will help bridge promising regimens in the pipeline with their intended impact on the ground,” said Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and CEO, TB Alliance. “We welcome all those involved in the development and evaluation of TB drug susceptibility tests to join CPTR, and in so doing, accelerate the impact that new technologies can have on this deadly disease.”
Source: CPTR
