08 December 2010

WHO endorses Xpert® MTB/RIF test for tuberculosis

London/Geneva

WHO press conference, from left to right: Dr Giorgio Roscigno, FIND CEO;  Dr Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Stop TB; Glenn Thomas, Senior Communications Adviser, WHO; Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of WHO's Stop TB Department; and Dr Karin Weyer, Coordinator of the WHO Stop TB Unit for Laboratory Strengthening (TBL)

FIND is proud to announce that the World Health Organization (WHO) has today endorsed a new rapid test for tuberculosis (TB) and rifampicin resistance: the Xpert®MTB/RIF. This test was co-developed by FIND, and has the potential to revolutionize TB care and control in the countries and populations most affected by the disease. Click here to read the WHO press release.
We are extremely honoured to have worked in partnership with WHO and other organizations in this endeavour, including Cepheid, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (USA).
The development of rapid and effective diagnostics is critical to saving millions of lives around the globe. It is a remarkable accomplishment, that in just a few short years, FIND and partners were able to develop an accurate, easy-to-use, rapid diagnostic tool for TB and drug resistance, as well as reducing its cost by more than 75 percent, compared to the current price in high income countries. Country programmes will now have the possibility to accurately diagnose both TB and multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB in 90 minutes, allowing those suffering from TB to receive the correct treatment faster, and curbing the effects of the disease on entire communities. In particular, the test brings new hope to many suffering from TB/HIV co-infections and multidrug-resistant strains.

 

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What has been FIND’s role?
FIND brings together TB organizations, diagnostic companies, funders and others, and sustains effective partnerships between them. This revolutionary model has proved critical to the successful creation, development and delivery of new diagnostics to the most affected countries.
FIND started with scouting the landscape for what new TB diagnostics were needed and where. We then identified partners, provided necessary financing, worked alongside our partners to refine the test, and organized the various in-country trials. Our negotiations then brought the product price as low as possible, so that the test would be available to the largest possible number of patients.
FIND’s job won’t end here. We are also involved in bringing the technologies we develop to their final users, to ensure that the new tools aren’t simply dumped into disease endemic countries. Through knowledge sharing and technology transfer, we help create the necessary conditions for their sustainable and effective roll-out and implementation.
And what is our strategy for the future? FIND will redouble its efforts to develop and deliver new, accurate and easy-to-use diagnostic tests for TB and other diseases for use even closer to the communities and people who need them most.
 
 
About FIND
FIND is dedicated solely to developing affordable, easy-to-use and cutting edge diagnostic tests that save lives in the poorest areas of the world. From the initial idea and discovery stage to putting new tests into practice, FIND works with multiple and diverse groups, from academia, industry, donors, partners in the field, Ministries of Health and the World Health Organization. With four new diagnostic tools for TB already in use, FIND also has programs in malaria and sleeping sickness. Launched in 2003, FIND is a not-for-profit foundation, with an established ISO-certified project management framework. FIND’s headquarters are in Geneva and it has offices in Kampala, Uganda, and New Delhi, India.
FIND is financed by both the private and public sectors. Donors currently include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Government of the Netherlands, the European Union, UNITAID, UK Department for International Development, National Institutes of Health (USA) and others.

 

WHO contact

Glenn Thomas
Mobile: +41 (0) 79 509 06 77
E-mail: thomasg@who.int

FIND contact

Lakshmi Sundaram
Tel: +41 (0) 22 710 27 86
lakshmi.sundaram@finddiagnostics.org