World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is marked annually on 24 March, the anniversary of the discovery of the causative mycobacterium by Dr Robert Koch. This year’s theme – “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” – serves as an important reminder of the need for continued investment and funding in order to end the TB epidemic. This follows the recent funding cuts to TB programs, particularly from the US, that raise serious concerns about the future of TB control and treatment efforts, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
TB is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other infectious disease, claiming approximately 1.25 million lives in 2023 alone according to the World Health Organization. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has historically been the largest bilateral donor to TB programs, contributing approximately $250 million annually. This funding has been instrumental in supporting the essential TB services, particularly in high-burden countries. However, sharp reductions in aid have disrupted TB programs worldwide, with Africa and South-East Asia among the hardest-hit regions.
Abigail Harris, Infectious Disease Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Funding cuts of this magnitude will directly impact access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, leaving millions vulnerable to disease progression and death. Without urgent intervention, we risk undoing decades of progress in TB elimination.”
A major concern arising from these funding cuts is the potential for increased drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases. Inconsistent treatment due to financial constraints can lead to incomplete therapy, allowing the TB bacterium to develop resistance to standard drugs. DR-TB is significantly more challenging and expensive to treat.
Harris continues: “If we allow funding gaps to persist, we risk facing an even deadlier TB crisis, where highly resistant strains, which require more prolonged and costly treatment, become more prevalent. The global health community must act swiftly to ensure continued access to treatment and accelerate research into new, effective therapies.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged immediate action to close the TB funding gap and meet global TB targets, including expanding diagnostic access, improving treatment regimens, and advancing vaccine development.
GlobalData’s pipeline products database reveals a promising TB pipeline with 15 prophylactic vaccines in clinical development. However, continued R&D investment is essential for the most promising candidates to reach the market.
Harris concludes: “Governments, international donors, and private-sector partners must recognize TB as the global health emergency that it is. Without sustained investment, the disease will claim more lives and pose an increasing threat to global health security.”
