Joint TB research program renewed

Drug company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development have renewed their joint research initiative, as both organisations look to further the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

The collaboration which began in 2004 currently has a number of research projects underway into the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) which causes the deadly infectious disease, particularly drug resistant strains.

Under the new terms of the agreement, which will now last for at least a further three years, GSK and the TB Alliance will jointly fund up to 25 scientists at GSK's facilities in Spain to research TB, one of the major transmissible diseases in the developing world.

Dr Mel Spigelman, director of research and development at TB Alliance, said: "We are encouraged by the success of our pioneering work with GSK, which has nearly doubled the number of TB drug discovery projects in our pipeline.

"This collaboration is advancing the TB Alliance's mission to develop revolutionary, faster and better TB treatment regimens by exploring new ways to attack the disease."

GSK has also announced a partnership with non-profit group Medicines for Malaria Venture to identify new drugs and treatments for malaria. Research will focus on macrolide antibiotics, which hold potential as anti-malarial drugs.