In recent years, the burden of infectious diseases has reduced or remained stable in Europe, thanks to strong commitments by the EU, aggressive targets, and cooperation among stakeholders. Still, diseases like HIV and tuberculosis remain public health concerns in Europe and around the world and are the focus of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3.3. At Viatris, we commend the EU’s solidarity in addressing the burden of HIV and TB globally and call for continued partnership in the global fight against infectious diseases.

Tuberculosis

 

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious killer aside from COVID-19. More than 1.5 million people die annually from TB, while an estimated 10 million people worldwide were newly diagnosed. An increasing number of these cases are multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), which is much more difficult to treat.3 Due to the progression of antimicrobial resistance, the burden of MDR-TB is projected to become significantly worse, taking millions of lives a year by 2050.4

As the largest producer of medicines to treat HIV, and given the significant co-infection of HIV and TB, we realized we have a powerful platform to help those living with TB today and prepare for the future impact of MDR-TB. In collaboration with TB Alliance, Viatris has made available the first drug approved to treat extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) or MDR/RR-TB that is treatment-intolerant or non-responsive. This medicine represents one of the few innovations in TB treatment in the last half century.

TB remains a major public health challenge in Europe. In 2021, we made drug-resistant TB treatment available in 22 European countries, via a partnership with Tanner Pharmaceuticals. The treatment was approved by the European Medicines Agency to be used as part of a combination regimen to treat XDR-TB and MDR/RR-TB.

Learn more about our progress in TB care

3. World Health Organization
4. Antimicrobial Resistance Industry Alliance