Research News

Key issues in TB drug research and development are explored in a series of articles, commissioned and edited by the TB Alliance, that appear in a special issue of Tuberculosis (Vol. 88, Supplement 1).

The articles explore key aspects and challenges in each phase of the TB drug research and development process. Within discovery research, this includes target discovery and validation, identification of new targets, lead optimization, and choice of animal models. Clinical topics include discussions of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TB drug candidates, the role(s) of Early Bactericidal Activity studies, the design of pivotal TB drug trials, and a regulatory perspective on developing new drugs for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

The commissioned authors were selected for their broad cross-section of expertise relevant to TB drug discovery and development. The result is an issue that provides important insights into and thoughtful discussion of the process of developing improved treatments for tuberculosis, and the unique challenges of this endeavor. The TB Alliance hopes this special issue will serve as an integral and valuable source for authoritative information on the field of tuberculosis drug research and development.

The articles are available for download on the TB Alliance website