Publication: The endTB observational study protocol: treatment of MDR-TB with bedaquiline or delamanid containing regimens

At a time when programs were struggling to design effective regimens for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), the marketing authorization of bedaquiline and delamanid was a critical development in the MDR-TB treatment landscape. However, despite their availability for routine programmatic use, the uptake of these drugs has remained slow; concerns included a lack of evidence on safety and efficacy and the need to protect the new drugs from the development of acquired resistance. As part of the endTB Project, we aimed to address these barriers by generating evidence on safety and efficacy of bedaquiline or delamanid based MDR-TB regimens.

Letter to the editor: High prevalence of hepatitis C infection among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients

In “Integrating HCV testing with HIV programs improves hepatitis C outcomes in people who inject drugs: A cluster-randomized trial”, the authors studied an intervention that integrated HCV testing and education into HIV services across India. In our opinion, many national tuberculosis (TB) programs should also consider integrating HCV testing. TB or the highly resistant variant of the disease, multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, is generally not considered a risk factor for HBV or HCV infection, except in those who are co-infected with HIV or who are intravenous drug users. Routine, systematic testing for HCV is rare in patients with MDR-TB and is not currently recommended in World Health Organization guidelines for MDR-TB treatment.

Publication: Clinical perspectives on treatment of rifampicin-resistant/ multidrug-resistant TB

Rapid diagnostics, newer drugs, repurposed medications, and shorter regimens have radically altered the landscape for treating rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). There are multiple ongoing clinical trials aiming to build a robust evidence base to guide RR/MDR-TB treatment, and both observational studies and programmatic data have contributed to advancing the treatment field.

endTB fatal and life-threatening SAE report

Report of fatal and life-threatening adverse events during endTB post-marketing safety surveillance of new and repurposed TB drugs

As part of the endTB project and observational study (2015-2019), rigorous post-marketing safety surveillance for all patients (referred to as "endTB patients") who began MDR/RR-TB regimens containing bedaquiline or delamanid was performed. This safety surveillance conformed to the "advanced" active TB Drug Safety Monitoring and Management (aDSM) package as defined by WHO (WHO/HTM/TB/2015.28).

The endTB COVID-19 Interim Guidance

This document is designed to give guidance to the endTB Project sites on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It is intended to be a resource for physicians and other health care professionals. It is a living document that will be regularly updated and enriched. 

DR-TB Drugs Under the Microscope: 7th edition

This MSF Access Campaign report – now in its seventh edition – covers recent developments, pricing and patent barriers for shorter treatment regimens for TB preventive therapy and newer TB medicines required for the optimal treatment of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), including an update on pediatric DR-TB formulations.

endTB Study Group Members

The endTB Study Group is the group that is responsible for the endTB Observational Study (NCT02754765), which includes more than 2700 patients started on bedaquiline and delamanid containing regimens in 17 countries. Organized by country, this is a list of doctors, nurses, data managers, pharmacists, social workers, administrators and others who have spent many hours collecting and cleaning data, working closely with patients, and ensuring that the endTB Observational Study works smoothly in every aspect of its complex existence.

DR-TB Drugs Under the Microscope: 6th edition

This MSF Access Campaign report – now in its sixth edition – analyses the barriers and factors affecting access to treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), including new and repurposed drugs in the framework of the new 2019 WHO DR-TB guidelines.

We provide detailed pricing profiles of key DR-TB drugs available on the Global TB Drug Facility website and estimated prices of DR-TB regimens recommended by WHO in programmatic or operational research frameworks.

This report was produced using among others endTB observational cohort data.

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