Program Objectives
Accelerating access to molecular diagnostics tools for TB case detection and MDR-TB diagnosis, as well as effective treatments.
The partnership will provide increased access to molecular diagnostics tools for TB case detection and MDR-TB diagnosis, and on ensuring accelerated access to effective treatments.
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What are the health needs and challenges?
While MDR-TB is threatening the global effort to eliminate TB, the high rates of missed or delayed diagnosis are preventing prompt, effective treatment and allowing MDR-TB’s continued spread. The need to address early diagnosis was highlighted as one of the core components of the post-2015 End TB Strategy. The inadequacy of current diagnostic solutions, particularly in terms of point-of-care diagnosis, has been a crucial barrier to efforts to contain the spread of TB infection, especially the more complex drug-resistant strains, with around one in four cases of MDR-TB being detected, and only 50 percent successfully treated.
Description of partnership activities and how they address needs and challenges
As part of the company’s commitment to advance global public health, Janssen, a company of Johnson & Johnson, and the non-profit organisation FIND started a new partnership with the objective to fight against tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).
The partnership draws on their expertise of FIND’s work in increasing access to affordable diagnostic solutions and of Janssen Diagnostics global division, as well as of the company’s experience in pharmaceuticals development and innovative access models.
It will focus on providing increased access to molecular diagnostics tools for TB case detection and MDR-TB diagnosis, and on ensuring accelerated access to effective treatments. In parallel to this program, Janssen and FIND will also collaborate on a variety of projects with other partners, including developers and national TB control programs, in order to close the gap in diagnosis and treatment.
Corresponding principle in the declaration
“As part of the WHO Global Action Plan’s proposal for a comprehensive program of sanitation, hygiene, vaccination, infection control, education, and stewardship, we support mechanisms to ensure affordable access to new and existing antibiotics to the patients who need them, in all parts of the world and at all levels of income."