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UNITE4TB at the Union Conference: A Collaboration to Transform TB Drug Development
UNITE4TB proudly joined forces with the PAN-TB Collaboration at this year’s Union Conference on Lung Health in Bali, showcasing innovation and collaboration in tuberculosis (TB) drug development. The satellite session on 14 November highlighted the collective effort required to advance TB therapeutics from clinical trials into global public health programs.
The session featured insights from developers, policymakers, and community representatives, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities in the new regimen development process. Key discussions revolved around the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders, from development partners to underserved populations and policymakers, to ensure that trials progress as quickly as possible and translate effectively into real-world impact.
Jodie Schildkraut, session co-chair from UNITE4TBEmphasis was placed on the importance of collaboration, as no single organization or initiative has access to all that is needed to develop a new regimen. Also, broader community and policy support is needed for the uptake of novel developments.
A standout message was the essential role of partnerships in sharing knowledge and resources, overcoming shared operational and regulatory challenges, and fostering community and policy support for new TB regimens. Audience discussions underscored the need for clinical trial partners to be flexible, sharing and incorporating new information quickly into ongoing and new trials. The discussion also emphasized the importance of early engagement with program implementation partners and communities most affected by TB – bringing them into discussions on the clinical trial design process right from the start.
UNITE4TB remains committed to advancing these conversations, leveraging insights from the session to enhance its initiatives and reinforce collaborations with stakeholders like national TB programs and community advisory groups.