More Research Needed for MDR-TB

The rise of drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis, known as MDR-TB and XDR-TB, should spur more research into the deadlier forms of TB.

Global data show 480,000 cases of MDR-TB in 2014, and an estimated 10 percent of those are thought to be extensively drug resistant, or XDR-TB.

Dr. Aamir Javed Khan, executive director of the Interactive Research and Development, said the cure rate for MDR-TB is about 50 percent. He said there are new drugs in the pipeline. But he said TB has not grabbed the public’s attention like Ebola, even though “XDR-TB is almost like an air-borne Ebola. It’ll go further than Ebola ever will.”

Khan said more TB funds should be funneled to research. Right now, about $700 million of annual TB funding goes to research, well short of the $2 billion goal. “Without investment in research, we won’t get new drugs or tests.”

This program is funded by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Lilly MDR-TB Project and TB Alliance. NPF is solely responsible for the content.

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