TB Archives – Treatment Action Group

Time for $5 Coalition Statement: Cepheid’s Updated GeneXpert Pricing Does Not Address Country Needs

May 10, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

The Time for $5 Coalition, comprised of over 150 civil society organizations globally, calls out Cepheid for the company’s insufficient and self-serving GeneXpert pricing packages for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), announced May 6, 2021.

The TB Research Engine That Could: Sustaining the Success of TBTC Research in Turbulent Times

May 10, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

This publication explores the critical role the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium holds in increasing the store of knowledge about TB cures and other tools, demonstrates the implications that a lack of funding will have across the TB pipeline, and offers recommendations to ensure the gains made in TB research are not lost.

TAG Welcomes U.S. Government Support of Intellectual Property Flexibilities to Enable COVID-19 Vaccine Access

May 6, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

Treatment Action Group (TAG) applauds the U.S. government’s decision to support the India-South Africa proposed waiver of certain intellectual property rights to enable equitable access to life-saving interventions for COVID-19.

Landmark TB Trials Results Published in New England Journal of Medicine

May 6, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

Today the New England Journal of Medicine published results of a landmark phase III clinical trial that found a 4-month regimen containing rifapentine and moxifloxacin performed as well as the six-month standard regimen in curing drug-susceptible pulmonary TB.

TAG EU and UK TB Research and Development Advocacy Consultant

April 30, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

TAG is seeking a consultant to advance strategic policy-advocacy and resource mobilization efforts for TB R&D in the context of EU and UK global development cooperation. The consultant will be responsible for engaging policymakers, investigating legislative opportunities, and executing advocacy strategies in collaboration with TAG to increase TB R&D resources in the region.

TAG Comments on NIST’s Proposed Rulemaking Changes

April 4, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

TAG submitted comments in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) proposed change to rulemaking, strongly opposing amendments to remove crucial public health safeguards from the Bayh-Dole Act. March-in rights and other provisions to hold manufacturers accountable when federally funded inventions are exorbitantly priced and are critically important to public health and the right to science.

Civil Society Letter to Donors, Countries, and Health Actors to Improve Access to GeneXpert and Other Diagnostics

April 1, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

TAG led an open letter appealing to donors, countries, and health actors to improve access to GeneXpert and other diagnostics for COVID-19, TB, HIV, HBV, HCV, and other diseases by applying collective leverage in negotiations with Cepheid for lower prices and sufficient volumes; establishing cost-of-goods-sold (COGS)-plus and volume-based pricing for diagnostics as a global norm; and increasing investments in alternative rapid molecular tests to promote competition and improve access.

Letters from TB Roundtable for Domestic and Global Appropriators, FY22

March 25, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

In March of 2021, the Tuberculosis Roundtable, of which TAG is a member organization, recently submitted letters to Congressional appropriators in support of increased funding for domestic and global TB programs for the 2022 fiscal year.

Nitrosamines and TB Medicines Information Note and Patient FAQs

February 18, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

In 2020, health authorities and drug manufacturers identified a type of chemical impurity called nitrosamines in rifampicin and rifapentine, two essential medicines used in the treatment and prevention of TB. TAG has developed several materials to help people affected by…

Community Movements Across Africa, Asia and South America Celebrate Roll-Out of Short-Course, Patient-Friendly TB Preventive Therapy

February 16, 2021
Dorrit Walsh

Advocates and affected communities working towards the global scale-up of short-course TB preventive therapy (TPT) hail the recent announcement of the launch of decently priced, patient-friendly fixed-dose combinations (FDC) of 3HP in five high burden HIV and TB countries.