Newsweek International Examines New TB Drug Developments

The Dec. 20 issue of Newsweek International examined the "urgen[t]" need for new tuberculosis treatments resulting from the disease's "astonishing comeback" in recent years. Drug-resistant TB strains have "driven the death toll from the disease" to approximately two million people per year, and the disease also is the cause of death for one-third of all people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to Newsweek. However, researchers "sent back to the lab" by the "urgency of the problem" are "starting to come up with leads," including the development of a new compound that might be effective against drug-resistant TB strains, Newsweek reports. The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development and pharmaceutical company Novartis are developing a family of compounds for TB treatment that also might be effective against cancer. According to Global Alliance CEO Maria Freire, clinical trials of the compounds -- called PA-824 -- might be completed in five years (Valla, Newsweek International, 12/20).