IRIN examines Lancet series on TB

Mar 28 2013

IRIN examines The Lancet series on tuberculosis (TB), saying that authors writing in the collection of articles note that investments in TB since 1993, when the WHO declared the disease a global emergency, "have led to the most promising pool of new tuberculosis drug and vaccine candidates in more than 40 years, with several new drugs and drug regimens poised to enter late-stage clinical trials throughout the next few years." The news service describes the debate over the GeneXpert TB testing machine used to detect drug-resistant TB, noting the authors of one article "conclude that although the tests are very good, they are still far from perfect." IRIN writes that the series calls for the development of new diagnostics and new drugs to treat the disease, as well as "visionary global leadership" (3/26).