The need for more investment in tuberculosis research
Authors: Joseph R Fitchett, Michael G Head, Rifat Atun
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2013)

We welcome the insightful Article on financing for tuberculosis control by Katherine Floyd and colleagues (August, p e105)1Floyd K Fitzpatrick C Pantoja A Raviglione M Domestic and donor financing for tuberculosis care and control in low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis of trends, 2002–11, and requirements to meet 2015 targets.Lancet Glob Health. 2013; 1: e105-e115Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (39) Google Scholar from the Global TB programme at WHO. The finding that many countries, including the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), are becoming increasingly self-sufficient in funding tuberculosis control is truly a success story, and one that the investigators should be applauded for documenting.However, tuberculosis control also requires research into new preventive measures, diagnostic approaches, and drugs, which were beyond the scope of Floyd and colleagues' study. Recent analyses by the Treatment Action Group,2Jiminez-Levi E Tuberculosis research and development: 2012 report on tuberculosis research funding trends, 2005–2011. Treatment Action Group, New York2012http://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/sites/tagone.drupalgardens.com/files/tbrd2012%20final.pdfGoogle Scholar Research Investments in Global Health (RESIN),3Head MG Fitchett JR Cooke MK Wurie FB Hayward AC Atun R UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2013; 13: 55-64Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (60) Google Scholar and G-FINDER4Moran M Guzman J Henderson K et al.Neglected disease research and development: a five year review. Policy Cures, Sydney2012http://www.policycures.org/downloads/GF2012_Report.pdfGoogle Scholar report a relative underinvestment for tuberculosis compared with other high-burden infectious diseases.Research investments are poorly documented, particularly among the BRICS countries, which is detrimental to the task of finding innovative solutions to address today's global health problems. With rising multidrug resistance and the continued search for a new tuberculosis vaccine, stimulating research through increased investment warrants prompt attention.WHO is currently reviewing the feasibility of establishing a Global Observatory for Research and Development.5Røttingen J-A Regmi S Eide M et al.Mapping of available health research and development data: what's there, what's missing, and what role is there for a global observatory?.Lancet. 2013; (published online May 20.)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61046-6Google Scholar, 6WHODraft working paper 1: a global health R&D observatory—developing a case for its development. World Health Organization, Geneva2013http://www.who.int/phi/documents/dwp1_global_health_rd_observatory_16May13.pdfGoogle Scholar We strongly support this effort. However, pharmaceutical companies need to be more open with their research portfolios, which could translate into more effective tuberculosis control in the near future.Financing for tuberculosis care and control is improving. However, interpreting the latest estimates without data for research investments could lead us to a false sense of security, particularly with the growing threats of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, HIV co-infection, and an unpredictable economic climate.We declare that we have no conflicts of interest. We welcome the insightful Article on financing for tuberculosis control by Katherine Floyd and colleagues (August, p e105)1Floyd K Fitzpatrick C Pantoja A Raviglione M Domestic and donor financing for tuberculosis care and control in low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis of trends, 2002–11, and requirements to meet 2015 targets.Lancet Glob Health. 2013; 1: e105-e115Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (39) Google Scholar from the Global TB programme at WHO. The finding that many countries, including the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), are becoming increasingly self-sufficient in funding tuberculosis control is truly a success story, and one that the investigators should be applauded for documenting. However, tuberculosis control also requires research into new preventive measures, diagnostic approaches, and drugs, which were beyond the scope of Floyd and colleagues' study. Recent analyses by the Treatment Action Group,2Jiminez-Levi E Tuberculosis research and development: 2012 report on tuberculosis research funding trends, 2005–2011. Treatment Action Group, New York2012http://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/sites/tagone.drupalgardens.com/files/tbrd2012%20final.pdfGoogle Scholar Research Investments in Global Health (RESIN),3Head MG Fitchett JR Cooke MK Wurie FB Hayward AC Atun R UK investments in global infectious disease research 1997–2010: a case study.Lancet Infect Dis. 2013; 13: 55-64Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (60) Google Scholar and G-FINDER4Moran M Guzman J Henderson K et al.Neglected disease research and development: a five year review. Policy Cures, Sydney2012http://www.policycures.org/downloads/GF2012_Report.pdfGoogle Scholar report a relative underinvestment for tuberculosis compared with other high-burden infectious diseases. Research investments are poorly documented, particularly among the BRICS countries, which is detrimental to the task of finding innovative solutions to address today's global health problems. With rising multidrug resistance and the continued search for a new tuberculosis vaccine, stimulating research through increased investment warrants prompt attention. WHO is currently reviewing the feasibility of establishing a Global Observatory for Research and Development.5Røttingen J-A Regmi S Eide M et al.Mapping of available health research and development data: what's there, what's missing, and what role is there for a global observatory?.Lancet. 2013; (published online May 20.)http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61046-6Google Scholar, 6WHODraft working paper 1: a global health R&D observatory—developing a case for its development. World Health Organization, Geneva2013http://www.who.int/phi/documents/dwp1_global_health_rd_observatory_16May13.pdfGoogle Scholar We strongly support this effort. However, pharmaceutical companies need to be more open with their research portfolios, which could translate into more effective tuberculosis control in the near future. Financing for tuberculosis care and control is improving. However, interpreting the latest estimates without data for research investments could lead us to a false sense of security, particularly with the growing threats of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, HIV co-infection, and an unpredictable economic climate. We declare that we have no conflicts of interest. Domestic and donor financing for tuberculosis care and control in low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis of trends, 2002–11, and requirements to meet 2015 targetsFunding for tuberculosis control increased substantially between 2002 and 2011, resulting in impressive and cost-effective gains. The increasing self-sufficiency of many countries, including BRICS, which account for almost half the world's tuberculosis cases, is a success story for control of tuberculosis. Nonetheless, international donor funding remains crucial in many countries and more is needed to achieve 2015 targets. Full-Text PDF Open Access