Search for TB biomarkers will lead to better diagnostic tests

23 Feb 2010

Paul Chinnock

Source: PR News Wire (see original article)

Comments

Sputum microscopy is used to confirm a diagnosis of TB, but this technique is time-consuming and must be done in the lab. Results are often unreliable. Better tests are therefore needed. [Credit Catherine Mudy, MSH.]

One of the major factors holding back tuberculosis control programmes is the lack of a reliable and rapid diagnostic test to confirm the presence of the disease. Now a non-profit initiative is to benefit from a $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will be used to discover new TB biomarkers that can be used to improve diagnostic tests and potentially develop more effective TB treatments.

The Catalysis Foundation, based in the USA, describes its mission as being “to alleviate the gaps in healthcare caused by inadequate or unavailable diagnosis and health monitoring technologies in developing countries”. It is seeking to build a coalition of experts including infectious disease researchers; global public health, government and non-governmental organizations; the pharmaceutical industry; and funders.

Catalysis’ research efforts will focus on collecting and analysing a comprehensive set of samples from TB patients in several countries. Scientists will use these samples to identify and apply biomarkers for use in next-generation “bacterial load” diagnostic assays, analogous to the HIV viral load assays already used in managing AIDS patients. The bacterial load assays, which measure the amount of bacteria in the body, could also lead to a more rapid, precise and efficient approach to developing effective TB drugs by providing a better indication of a patient’s response to treatment.

“The Catalysis Foundation’s initiative is an important opportunity to address a critical need in tuberculosis drug development and disease management by developing quantitative measures of bacterial burden,” said Dr Clifton Barry, Chief, Tuberculosis Research Section, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and a Catalysis collaborator on the new study. “Our goal is to provide new diagnostic tools to facilitate disease diagnosis, monitoring and treatment in remote geographic settings to help patients lead healthier lives free of the deadly disease caused by TB infection.”

Richard Thayer, Catalysis’ Chief Executive, said: “Along with therapeutics and vaccines, diagnostics make up the critical and often overlooked ‘third imperative’ for reducing the burden of disease. By establishing a global coalition of experts with skills in every aspect of diagnostics product development and commercialization, together we can realize our shared goal to create long-term, sustainable solutions for resource-poor settings”.