New Gates Foundation Grant to Support TB Drug R&D

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a new $104 million grant to the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development in order to:

• Advance moxifloxacin into Phase III trials, with the goal of demonstrating its effectiveness for TB by 2010;
• Pursue nine pre-clinical projects and identify the best of these compounds for clinical studies;
• Work with policymakers, TB treatment providers and advocates to ensure that new TB drugs will be adopted and made accessible in developing countries;
• Analyze drug market conditions and compliance issues to ensure the rapid adoption of a new drug regimen once it is shown to be effective.