Stories and Viewpoints

Access & Impact

September 12, 2023

By: Abhijit Barve

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, second only to COVID-19, claiming 1.6 million lives worldwide in 2021.¹ TB generally affects the most vulnerable people – those who live in poverty, are marginalized or economically and socially excluded.² Ongoing conflicts across Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East have further exacerbated this situation.³ Globally, the cumulative reduction in the tuberculosis incidence rate from 2015 to 2021 was 10% and has faced significant setbacks due to COVID-19 disruptions in care.⁴ Much more needs to be done to reach the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy milestone target of 50% reduction by 2025.⁵

Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains a growing public health crisis, with only about one in three people accessing treatment in 2020.¹ Multi-Drug Resistant/Rifampicin-Resistant (MDR/RR) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) TB, together commonly referred to as DR TB, represent the greatest threat to the progress that has been made, especially as COVID-19 disruptions negatively impacted treatment.

The significance of DR TB within the broader context of Antimicrobial Resistance

Drug-resistant TB is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).⁶ Of the 700,000 people the WHO estimates die every year from AMR, nearly one-third are due to drug-resistant TB – by far the largest single contributing cause. The WHO estimates that the number of deaths due to AMR could rise to 10 million people a year by 2050 under the most alarming scenario if no action is taken.⁷

Increasing Global Access to Treatment

Providing sustainable access to high-quality medicines and healthcare is a universal need. At Viatris, we realized that we had a powerful platform, as the world’s largest producer of HIV drugs by volume, to help those living with TB around the world, including the regions where the TB burden is the highest – in low- and lower- middle-income countries. As such, our commitment to access begins with our ability to sustainably deliver high-quality medicines to people, regardless of geography or circumstance, and we offer a range of anti-TB medication options. Our efforts extend beyond delivering treatment options, as we believe that increased awareness and education are also crucial to help advance the WHO’s treatment recommendations, which include MDR-TB guidance.

These steps to expand access to healthcare for previously unmet needs of patients suffering from DR-TB are a small part of the global fight to end TB. We know we can do more – and are committed to continue partnering to make a difference for those impacted by TB.