Last week, the PAN-TB collaboration announced initial plans for a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating two novel drug regimens to treat Tuberculosis. Sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the PAN-TB, or “Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis”, collaboration brings together non-profit, philanthropic, and private sector partners for a common mission to develop novel TB medicines that are better-tolerated, shorter in duration, and simpler to use than existing options. The collaboration includes members such as Evotec, GSK, Janssen, Otsuka, TB Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Phase 2 study announced by Gates MRI last week will evaluate 2 novel drug regimens comprising of 5 anti-TB chemical entities, some of which are currently approved for treatment of TB and new chemical entities to the treatment of TB. The anti-TB agents are:
The two drug regimens under investigation in this clinical trial are:
- DBOS – Delamanid, Bedaquiline, OPC-167832, and Sutezolid
- PBOS – Pretomanid, Bedaquiline, OPC-167832, and Sutezolid
The 5 drugs and drug candidates are owned by 4 of the PAN-TB consortium’s members: Janssen Pharmaceutica (Bedaquiline), Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Delamanid & OPC-157832), TB Alliance (Pretomanid & Sutezolid), and Gates MRI (Sutezolid). These 4 members and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to investigate these novel regimens in a Phase 2 clinical trial that will be conducted by the Gates MRI. The PAN-TB consortium’s goal is to identify a regimen that is suitable for phase 3 development.
Last year, the WGND produced an episode of it's podcast, The Dose, on the topic of the PAN-TB Collaboration. Listen to this episode by clicking here or on Vimeo.
To read more about this announcement please visit below:
- Gates Medical Research Institute’s Press Release – 17 August 2022
- TB Alliance Press Release – 17 August 2022
- Janssen Press Release – 17 August 2022
- Otsuka Press Release – 18 August 2022