Report: Investing in innovation and equitable access to end the TB epidemic

TB is a preventable and curable disease, and yet it continues to affect over 10 million people worldwide every year. Without immediate action to end TB, the human and economic toll will continue to climb.

At the UN High-Level Meeting on TB in 2023, member states committed to mobilise adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing for TB research and innovation especially to high-burden countries towards reaching US$5 billion a year by 2027, for rapid and accurate point-of-care diagnostics, vaccines for all forms of TB and shorter and safer and more effective drug regimens, especially for drug-resistant TB.

The TB epidemic is perpetuated by inadequate funding and insufficient political will. Investing in research and development to improve the tools available for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB is a critical pathway to eradicating this disease. The current reliance on outdated tools is unacceptable – people affected by TB deserve access to modern, effective solutions.

A report, co-authored by Results Canada and Results UK, presents the case for meeting the financial targets for TB research and development to ensure all people can benefit from scientific progress. Investing in TB research offers not only financial returns but also strengthens health systems, builds research capacity, improves health outcomes, and enhances global health security for all.

We know what needs to be done to end this curable disease. What is required now is sustainable funding and policy reform, backed by strong political will, to bring new innovations to life and ensure that they reach the communities that need them most.

For more TB updates, check out the TB CAB Weekly Newsletter (Issue #4, 3 October 2024).

The newsletter is brought to you by the Global TB Community Advisory Board (TB CAB) with the support of Treatment Action Group (TAG) and EATG. Subscribe to the newsletter here.