TB Alliance and Takeda advance programme to find new TB treatments

The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) and Takeda are to further explore hits generated from a high-throughput screening programme conducted to find novel compounds to treat tuberculosis (TB).

In June 2013, TB Alliance and Takeda initiated a programme to screen Takeda’s library of 20,000 proprietary compounds to identify potential candidates that showed promise to be further developed into new TB treatments. This new collaboration advances the successful hits from the screening programme.

Leveraging the experience of TB Alliance and Takeda

Today’s existing TB treatments are complicated and require a minimum of six months of treatment, imposing a heavy burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. Treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis can take two years or longer and is much more expensive and complicated. Given this global health threat, new TB drugs and regimens that are simpler to administer, are of shorter duration, and can overcome drug resistance are urgently needed.

The collaboration will leverage both TB Alliance’s and Takeda’s experience, knowledge and technology to discover and pursue optimal lead compounds for intervention against TB. This partnership complements TB Alliance’s existing work in advancing the pipeline for new TB drugs. For Takeda, this programme is an excellent opportunity to leverage, as part of the company’s drug discovery expertise for communicable diseases. Through these initiatives, TB Alliance and Takeda aim to contribute to the eradication of TB and improve the health and quality of life for millions of people.