The primary goal of World Tuberculosis Day is to increase awareness of the global impact of tuberculosis (TB), which – despite being curable and preventable – is still one of the top ten causes of death worldwide as well as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.
In 2019, 10,000,000 people fell ill with TB, 1,400,000 people died of TB and 465,000 people fell ill with drug-resistant TB. Research is still ongoing to help reduce global TB incidence.
Image Credit: Cerba Research
The importance of clinical trials to research breakthroughs
TB treatments have existed for decades, and documented strains resistant to one or more therapeutics continue to emerge worldwide. The continued evolution of these strains necessitates ongoing and innovative breakthroughs in both the prevention and treatment of the disease.
An investigation into the clinical trial landscape highlights a total of 183 ongoing clinical trials on tuberculosis around the world, with another 83 planned clinical studies. The majority of these studies are being conducted in the areas where TB incidence is highest – Asia-Pacific and African regions.
Cerba Research is committed to improving patients’ lives. Its work in the ongoing fight against TB has seen its worldwide experts and laboratories supporting drug and vaccine developers in their efforts to lower the prevalence of TB.
The company’s strong presence in South Africa – one of eight countries that account for two-thirds of new TB cases – is evidence of the company’s dedication to lessening the global burden of the disease.
TB testing and P3 labs
In order to safely test TB, it is necessary to employ a P3 laboratory and – most frequently – GeneXpert machines. These machines have been largely reallocated since 2020 as part of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cerba Research’s affiliate in South Africa – BARC SA – maintains one of Africa’s largest TB P3 laboratories. This lab is comprised of a P3 facility with a discrete space set up for MGIT analyzers and microscopic analysis.
Working with a network of laboratories in North America and Europe, this lab boasts excellent testing capacity and capabilities – vital factors in supporting TB clinical trials on an international scale.
Cerba Research is well aware of the need to develop TB testing to advance the broader research agenda of quantitative detection.
This work will involve further characterization of TB using advanced methods such as Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing for resistance detection and species determination via RFLP, TB Fingerprinting and whole-genome sequencing.
Cerba Research is dedicated to supporting a global reduction in the burden of tuberculosis.
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About Cerba Research
For over 35 years, Cerba Research has been setting the industry standard for exemplary clinical trial conduct. Today, across five continents, with a focus on precision medicine, we are changing the paradigm of the central lab’s role in complex clinical research.
From protocol inception through development and to market, our passionate experts deliver the highest quality specialized and personalized laboratory and diagnostic solutions. Partner with us for the most efficient strategy to actualize your biotech and pharmaceutical products sooner and improve the lives of patients worldwide.
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