Our work in drug-resistant TB
The Union advocates for increased research and development, and conducts clinical trials to reduce treatment time and improve outcomes for patients in countries with the highest burdens of disease.
The Union also provides practical and experience-based support to countries implementing care for people with DR-TB. Our expertise is based on our extensive research with partners supporting the nine-month regimen, including partnering on the first randomised control trial into a new regimen for multidrug-resistant TB (TREAT TB).
With the new World Health Organization guidelines focusing on shorter, all oral, regimens for MDR-TB, The Union continues to support countries to implement the latest evidence-based treatments.
TREAT TB
Read more about TREAT TB (Technology, Research, Education and Technical Assistance for Tuberculosis), an ambitious initiative that was launched by The Union, seeking to contribute new knowledge regarding shorter, more tolerable treatment regimens for MDR-TB.
OTHER AREAS OF OUR WORK IN TUBERCULOSIS
You might also be interested in our work on child and adolescent TB and TB-HIV, TB-diabetes and co-morbidities.
The Union used an operational research approach to test a shortened treatment regimen for multidrug-resistant TB. The study first demonstrated a greater than 80% success rate in Bangladesh, Cameroon and Niger and The Union continued to work to develop and implement shorter more effective regimens for the treatment of MDR-TB.
Learn more
Understand the issues with our fact sheets
DR-TB Union news
Pretomanid with bedaquiline and linezolid for drug-resistant TB: a comparison of prospective cohorts
In this recently accepted article for IJTLD, the authors performed a cohort-comparison study to assess Pretomanid in a regimen to treat drug-resistant TB: patients receiving the BPaL regimen had a significantly better 6-month post-treatment outcome than those on the B–L regimen. The preprint is free to read.
A positive COVID-19 test is associated with high mortality in RR-TB-HIV patients
The authors investigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on people with RR-TB.
Announcing the 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health
The Union World Conference will take place from 19-22 October. Wherever you are in the world, join us to know, share and act to find solutions to the biggest issues in lung health for this new era.
The latest TB R&D developments must pave the way for greater investment
Last week saw critical announcements on tuberculosis research and development, which show important progress in the field. The Union calls for greater knowledge and data sharing to ensure that scientific research can have the biggest impact in the fight to end TB.
Union Guide is blueprint for national TB guidelines around the world
Seventh edition of The Union’s popular technical guide ‘Management of Tuberculosis: A Guide to Essential Practice’ now available in French and Spanish.
Bedaquiline: Rolling out the first new TB drug since 1960
A special thematic issue of The Union's International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease explores increasing access to this vital treatment for multidrug-resistant TB.