Tough TB drugs
developed by nonprofit

Up-and-coming tuberculosis vaccines may protect against multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains of the disease. Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to creating new TB vaccines, is developing at least two new TB vaccine regimens for infants and adolescents by 2015 and to ensure worldwide availability.

Dr. Jerald Sadoff, Aeras president and CEO, announced the plans at the International Conference on Global Health, describing the increasing rate of the invulnerable TB strains as resulting in a higher fatality rate in people with HIV.

"TB is second only to HIV/AIDS as the world's most deadly infectious disease and is the leading cause of death among individuals infected with HIV. TB takes a victim every 20 seconds, which adds up to more than 1.5 million people every year," Sadoff said. (The Advocate)