Free life-saving drugs for TB patients

Under the agreement, Novartis will manufacture special patient kits containing fixed-dose combination tablets in blister packs. The design improves patient compliance and greatly reduces the risk of developing drug-resistant TB, which is far more costly and difficult to treat.

Novartis will donate the drugs to the Global Drug Facility, which is hosted by WHO and operated by the Stop TB Partnership. The facility has supplied procurement support and medicines to 2.8 million TB patients in 65 countries since its launching, says a press release.

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The drugs will be provided over a five-year period to the countries, including Bangladesh, with support from the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

TB kills almost two million people every year. In Africa, lack of access to quality drugs is a key constraint to fighting tuberculosis and the TB/HIV co-epidemic.

WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook welcomed the agreement as a major contribution to TB control. "Novartis has taken a strong lead in fighting tuberculosis and we encourage other drug manufacturers to follow their example."

Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO, Novartis AG, said the donation was one aspect of a multi-pronged strategy to help combat the disease.