TAGline Spring 2014
NEWS ON THE FIGHT TO END HIV/AIDS, VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND TUBERCULOSIS Spring 2014 The April Fools' Issue: April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four. —Mark…
Falling Funding for Tuberculosis Research Threatens to Derail TB Elimination Efforts in the United States
The goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat in the United States is under threat, a new policy brief released today by Treatment Action Group (TAG) shows. Analysis conducted by TAG reveals that spending on TB research and development (R&D) among U.S. government agencies declined from 2009 to 2012 in the face of budget instability, sequestration, and the rising costs of biomedical research.
Flatlined: U.S. Government Investments in Tuberculosis Research and Development, 2009–2012
March 2014 By Mike Frick Introduction The goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat in the United States is under threat. In 1989, the U.S. government committed to ending the TB epidemic through the formation of a…
Letter Urging AstraZeneca to Continue to Invest in TB Research
February 13, 2014 TAG, CRAG, and the TB CAB sent an open letter to AstraZeneca urging their continued investment in tuberculosis research despite the cessation of AstraZeneca’s Neglected Tropical Diseases, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Program. Read/Download the TAG, CRAG, TB CAB…
Open Letter: Appreciation for Sanofi US Committing to Lower Price of Rifapentine
This letter from CRAG (TB Community Research Advisors Group) and TAG was sent to Anne Whitaker, President, North America Pharmaceuticals of Sanofi US. It commends Sanofi for making this commitment to lower the price of rifapentine for Public Health Service…
2013 TAG Update
TAG’s annual review of progress we’ve made on the the fight to end HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis.
CRAG, TAG Welcome Sanofi U.S. Commitment to Reduce the Price of Tuberculosis Drug Rifapentine
The Community Research Advisors Group (CRAG) and Treatment Action Group (TAG) welcome the Sanofi U.S. decision to lower the price of the tuberculosis (TB) drug rifapentine to $32 per 32-tablet blister pack. The company indicates that the new price will become effective in January 2014 under 340(b) Public Health Service pricing.
TAG, CRAG, and TB CAB Letter Calling for Compassionate Use Program for Delamanid
TAG, CRAG, and the TB CAB issues urgent appeal for Otsuka to initiate its long overdue compassionate use program by the end of 2013.
TAG Applauds $12 Billion Replenishment of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Treatment Action Group applauds the donors who have helped make it possible to save more lives by raising a record-breaking $12 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years. TAG also commends the Obama administration for its generous match of one dollar for every two dollars contributed by other donors, which helped to drive up funding commitments in the current replenishment round.
Treatment Action Group Applauds European Approval of New Drug to Fight Tuberculosis, Demands Expanded Access and Affordable Pricing
Treatment Action Group (TAG) congratulates the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its recommendation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to grant marketing approval to delamanid, a new drug for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) now in phase III clinical trials. MDR-TB treatment options that do not include new drugs are long, toxic, difficult to tolerate, and often ineffective.