Over 500,000 people worldwide (and by worldwide I mean almost all in poor countries) have MDR-TB and the WHO estimates less than 1 % receive sufficient treatment. Over 1.7 million people die every year of MDR-TB and TB combined (the leading infectous disease killer after HIV/AIDS). So here we're talking about a curable disease. Treatment usually takes 6 months and as little as $20 for a full treatment (of a standard case), where millions of people die every year. Yet, because it is a disease that affects mostly the poor, we don't hear much about it, and there has been no new treatment in the last half-century because drug companies can see a "payout" at the end of their research and development for the drugs.
But, here is the good news. For the first time in 50 years a new TB drug, called "aEuro" is in the testing phase for use in fighting TB and MDR-TB (multi-drug-resistant TB). This is a huge advance, especially because it is impossible for the TB agents to be resistant to this drug since they have never experienced it before. It also can be stored at room temperature and only has to be taken 3 times a week, a plus in developing countries. Now it just has to be tested with people who are HIV positive and are taking antiretroviral drugs, to make sure it is safe to combine the medications. TB is the leading cause of death for those who are HIV positive.
I hope to write more sometime about TB in the developing world, and especially about Paul Farmer, an amazing man who organized Partners in Health and currently is working in Haiti.
http://cgi.wn.com/?action=display&article=87361758&template=worldnews/paidnews.txt&index=recent
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