Breakthrough new medicines for drug-resistant TB to be made available for low- and middle-income countries as part of $160 million of new grants funded by UNITAID.

Until better medicines are introduced, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis will remain a dangerous global threat.

Innovative project expands access to new test: the project known as EXPAND-TB helped to triple the number of MDR-TB cases diagnosed in participating countries.

UNITAID is seeking to fund new innovative projects to increase access to treatment, diagnostic, and preventive products for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. In 2013 UNITAID approved over $160 million in funding.

UNITAID reports exploring the patent landscapes and possible access issues relating to bedaquiline, SQ109, AZD5847, sutezolid, delamanid and PA-824.

The purpose of the report is to highlight developments that have occurred since July 2013 – namely, in the areas of policy development, implementation and scale-up of the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay and efforts to define the characteristics of next-generation molecular tests that could replace smear microscopy.

Geneva, 12th November 2013 - UNITAID has expressed concern about some aspects of the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations between countries in Asia Pacific.

A review of medicines to treat TB, including both existing products and emerging technologies with the potential to improve treatment.

Largest ever roll-out of GeneXpert® rapid TB test machines in 21 countries will help halt spread of drug-resistant TB and save 62,000 lives.

The report reviews the landscape of TB diagnostics - considering current and expected future technologies, as well as critical market issues, highlighting potential market-based approaches to address shortcomings and improve market function.