Newsroom
Clinical trial preparations in Vietnam
Consortium partner, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, was delighted to continue preparations for the UNITE4TB clinical trials with a visit in July from Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung, Director of Vietnam’s National TB Programme, and Professor Michael Hoelscher & Dr Norbert Heinrich from LMU, our Consortium partner in Munich, Germany.
In collaboration with local partners, OUCRU will lead the conduct of UNITE4TB clinical trials in Vietnam, including whole-genome sequencing of bacterial isolates and research into new host and pathogen biomarkers. Samples collected in Vietnam will contribute to a global collection that will be useful for researchers around the world.
The Vietnam National TB Programme will be an important partner in the upcoming trials and the subsequent adoption of new drugs into treatment regimens. The visit allowed for a detailed assessment of how the trial will run on the ground and the preparation needed to start the trials promptly in 2023.
Commenting on OUCRU’s involvement in UNITE4TB, Professor Guy Thwaites, who is leading the project in Vietnam, said: “Each year, more people die from tuberculosis in Vietnam than road traffic accidents, yet treatment is still dependent upon drugs discovered more than 50 years ago. I am thrilled that OUCRU and the Vietnam National TB Programme are taking a leading role in the UNITE4TB Consortium, conducting innovative clinical trials to develop new drugs and regimens for this terrible, preventable disease.”