Government Leaders Inaugurate New Tuberculosis Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation Opens its BSL-2 Vaccine Manufacturing Plant, Applying 21st Century Solutions to a Centuries Old Disease-on-the-rise
Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Rockville Mayor, Susan R. Hoffmann, inaugurated a state-of-the-art tuberculosis vaccine manufacturing facility capable of producing 200 million doses of a new TB vaccine at the headquarters of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation today. Aeras is a non-profit research organization – funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the government of the Netherlands and others – that is developing new TB vaccines to help stop the global TB epidemic.
"I am proud that such an important scientific and humanitarian mission is being undertaken here in Montgomery County, which is home to world-class biomedical innovation. Aeras’ work to develop effective, affordable tuberculosis vaccine regimens will help fight and ultimately conquer this disease worldwide,” said Congressman Chris Van Hollen.
TB is becoming increasingly severe and complex due to the development of drug resistant forms of TB and the deadly relationship between TB and HIV. Today, TB kills 1.8 million people annually, and there are more than 9 million new cases of TB disease every year. There is an urgent need for new tools to combat the TB epidemic. Aeras, a global leader in the quest for a new TB vaccine, is pioneering aerosol delivery of TB vaccines directly into the lung where the disease primarily strikes, as well as other innovations in TB vaccine technology.
“TB is a terrible disease. Health experts say it will take 1,000 years to stop it using currently available methods of treatment and prevention,” said Jerald C. Sadoff, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. “TB will not be eliminated without a new vaccine. With the new facility, Aeras can pursue aerosol formulations and manufacture vaccines faster to prevent delay in getting them to the men, women and children around the world that need them.”
The new manufacturing facility, a multi-million dollar investment that will lead to new high-tech jobs in Montgomery County during the economic downturn, will bring efficiencies and cost savings to the TB vaccine development and manufacturing process. Ultimately, the new facility will enable Aeras to keep the cost of future TB vaccines affordable to those who need them most in countries hardest hit by TB.
“We are proud that Montgomery County is home to the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation,” said Isiah Leggett, County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland. “Aeras’ growth in the past six years has been tremendous. In a time of economic downturn, we are pleased that this project provided employment to over 130 people involved in the design and construction of the new manufacturing facility that we are here to inaugurate today. The innovation taking place in this state-of-the-art facility will be vital to accomplishing Aeras’ humanitarian mission: eliminating tuberculosis worldwide.”
Aeras has assembled the broadest TB vaccine product pipeline in the world. Four vaccine candidates in Aeras’ pipeline are currently undergoing testing in clinical trials, including one candidate that advanced to the proof-of-concept stage last month in South Africa.
The new TB vaccine manufacturing facility is a BioSafety Level-2 facility, built to handle infectious agents that can cause disease in humans but whose potential for transmission is limited. It has the capacity to fill 5,000 vials of vaccine per run and produce up to 200 million bulk doses of a new TB vaccine, which is enough to meet the worldwide need.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Government Leaders Inaugurate New Tuberculosis Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
Government Leaders Inaugurate New Tuberculosis Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
Government Leaders Inaugurate New Tuberculosis Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation Opens its BSL-2 Vaccine Manufacturing Plant, Applying 21st Century Solutions to a Centuries Old Disease-on-the-rise
Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Rockville Mayor, Susan R. Hoffmann, inaugurated a state-of-the-art tuberculosis vaccine manufacturing facility capable of producing 200 million doses of a new TB vaccine at the headquarters of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation today. Aeras is a non-profit research organization – funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the government of the Netherlands and others – that is developing new TB vaccines to help stop the global TB epidemic.
"I am proud that such an important scientific and humanitarian mission is being undertaken here in Montgomery County, which is home to world-class biomedical innovation. Aeras’ work to develop effective, affordable tuberculosis vaccine regimens will help fight and ultimately conquer this disease worldwide,” said Congressman Chris Van Hollen.
TB is becoming increasingly severe and complex due to the development of drug resistant forms of TB and the deadly relationship between TB and HIV. Today, TB kills 1.8 million people annually, and there are more than 9 million new cases of TB disease every year. There is an urgent need for new tools to combat the TB epidemic. Aeras, a global leader in the quest for a new TB vaccine, is pioneering aerosol delivery of TB vaccines directly into the lung where the disease primarily strikes, as well as other innovations in TB vaccine technology.
“TB is a terrible disease. Health experts say it will take 1,000 years to stop it using currently available methods of treatment and prevention,” said Jerald C. Sadoff, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. “TB will not be eliminated without a new vaccine. With the new facility, Aeras can pursue aerosol formulations and manufacture vaccines faster to prevent delay in getting them to the men, women and children around the world that need them.”
The new manufacturing facility, a multi-million dollar investment that will lead to new high-tech jobs in Montgomery County during the economic downturn, will bring efficiencies and cost savings to the TB vaccine development and manufacturing process. Ultimately, the new facility will enable Aeras to keep the cost of future TB vaccines affordable to those who need them most in countries hardest hit by TB.
“We are proud that Montgomery County is home to the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation,” said Isiah Leggett, County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland. “Aeras’ growth in the past six years has been tremendous. In a time of economic downturn, we are pleased that this project provided employment to over 130 people involved in the design and construction of the new manufacturing facility that we are here to inaugurate today. The innovation taking place in this state-of-the-art facility will be vital to accomplishing Aeras’ humanitarian mission: eliminating tuberculosis worldwide.”
Aeras has assembled the broadest TB vaccine product pipeline in the world. Four vaccine candidates in Aeras’ pipeline are currently undergoing testing in clinical trials, including one candidate that advanced to the proof-of-concept stage last month in South Africa.
The new TB vaccine manufacturing facility is a BioSafety Level-2 facility, built to handle infectious agents that can cause disease in humans but whose potential for transmission is limited. It has the capacity to fill 5,000 vials of vaccine per run and produce up to 200 million bulk doses of a new TB vaccine, which is enough to meet the worldwide need.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Delhi's new initiative to improve healthcare in the community
Delhi's new initiative to improve healthcare in the community
Less than a week before the 3rd Stop TB Partners' Forum is about to begin in Brazil, a unique partnership is being forged in a community of India's capital to improve TB responses.
The residents of south Delhi and healthcare providers in this area are holding an ongoing dialogue to identify key challenges that people face in accessing the health services, and to come up with effective solutions that can potentially improve the quality of care for all residents.
The new Community Care Club in the Lado Sarai area of South Delhi (India), is working to improve the health of people in the diverse district by bringing together consumers and care-providers in a dynamic 'partnership in health'. Led by local former TB patients and people living with HIV, this is an initiative to empower not only themselves, but also to empower and mobilize a broad base of the community including the private and public sectors.
Residents and workers are now organizing to collectively address their problems, improve access and raise the standards of care in the neighborhood - to exercise their rights and take responsibilities for a healthier community.
The first series of public meetings of the Community Care Club will be held on the coming World Health Day (7 April 2009) in different 'high-volume' public spaces. At the same time, a team of people living with the diseases will be conducting a 'streetwise' survey to further ascertain what the community considers a priority for action. It is being organized by the Delhi Mahila Samiti - the Women's Forum of Delhi Network of People Living with HIV (DNP+), and the World Care Council.
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of the Government of India, now includes the Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care (PCTC, The Charter). The Charter is also a part of the global Stop TB Strategy, and lays out the rights and responsibilities of people with TB, and how the Charter is a tool to effectively achieve the implementation of the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC).
However, implementing the Charter on the frontlines of TB care, raising awareness about rights and responsibilities, and using it as an empowering tool for people with TB and their community in order to improve the quality of care services, is certainly a daunting task.
Just last year, at a South East Asia regional meeting on TB in New Delhi, the National TB Programme Manager of India (RNTCP) was questioned by the people from affected communities on why the Charter is not a part of the RNTCP - the next day the Charter went up on the website of RNTCP. A major step forward for people with TB, and their communities.
People committed to improving TB care and related services are organizing themselves to mobilize communities to genuinely partner with the healthcare providers, to implement the Charter effectively and advocate for scaling up the quality of TB and TB-HIV care. This initiative is powered by two principles of greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) and the greater involvement of people with TB (GIPT).
A new day dawns for the community on World Health Day in India's Capital.
- Bobby Ramakant
Delhi's new initiative to improve healthcare in the community
Delhi's new initiative to improve healthcare in the community
Less than a week before the 3rd Stop TB Partners' Forum is about to begin in Brazil, a unique partnership is being forged in a community of India's capital to improve TB responses.
The residents of south Delhi and healthcare providers in this area are holding an ongoing dialogue to identify key challenges that people face in accessing the health services, and to come up with effective solutions that can potentially improve the quality of care for all residents.
The new Community Care Club in the Lado Sarai area of South Delhi (India), is working to improve the health of people in the diverse district by bringing together consumers and care-providers in a dynamic 'partnership in health'. Led by local former TB patients and people living with HIV, this is an initiative to empower not only themselves, but also to empower and mobilize a broad base of the community including the private and public sectors.
Residents and workers are now organizing to collectively address their problems, improve access and raise the standards of care in the neighborhood - to exercise their rights and take responsibilities for a healthier community.
The first series of public meetings of the Community Care Club will be held on the coming World Health Day (7 April 2009) in different 'high-volume' public spaces. At the same time, a team of people living with the diseases will be conducting a 'streetwise' survey to further ascertain what the community considers a priority for action. It is being organized by the Delhi Mahila Samiti - the Women's Forum of Delhi Network of People Living with HIV (DNP+), and the World Care Council.
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of the Government of India, now includes the Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care (PCTC, The Charter). The Charter is also a part of the global Stop TB Strategy, and lays out the rights and responsibilities of people with TB, and how the Charter is a tool to effectively achieve the implementation of the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC).
However, implementing the Charter on the frontlines of TB care, raising awareness about rights and responsibilities, and using it as an empowering tool for people with TB and their community in order to improve the quality of care services, is certainly a daunting task.
Just last year, at a South East Asia regional meeting on TB in New Delhi, the National TB Programme Manager of India (RNTCP) was questioned by the people from affected communities on why the Charter is not a part of the RNTCP - the next day the Charter went up on the website of RNTCP. A major step forward for people with TB, and their communities.
People committed to improving TB care and related services are organizing themselves to mobilize communities to genuinely partner with the healthcare providers, to implement the Charter effectively and advocate for scaling up the quality of TB and TB-HIV care. This initiative is powered by two principles of greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) and the greater involvement of people with TB (GIPT).
A new day dawns for the community on World Health Day in India's Capital.
- Bobby Ramakant
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Addressing HIV and IDU issues vital for TB programmes in Nepal
Addressing HIV and IDU issues vital for TB programmes in Nepal
More than 90% of the diagnosed TB patients are successfully completing treatment in Nepal today. Nepal's anti-TB programme has received appreciation in the south-east Asian region which is the result of ongoing government commitment, community support, forging wide range of partnerships, and the use of innovative ways of ensuring access to Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) - especially in remote areas, says Dr Dirgh Singh Bam, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nepal, who is also the former Vice-President of Nepal's Anti-Tuberculosis Association (NATA).
However it is due to poor programme performance of DOTS that ups the drug-resistant forms of TB including the multi drug-resistant TB (MDR TB). Up to 1.8% of new TB infections in Nepal, are of MDR-TB, informs Dr Bam.
MDR-TB is resistant to at least two of the best anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. These drugs are considered first-line drugs and are used to treat all persons with TB disease. Resistance to anti-TB drugs can occur when these drugs are misused or mismanaged. Examples include when patients do not complete their full course of treatment; when health-care providers prescribe the wrong treatment, the wrong dose, or length of time for taking the drugs; when the supply of drugs is not always available; or when the drugs are of poor quality, says Dr Bam.
Nepal reports up to 29% TB-HIV co-infection, says Dr Bam. He also talks about the TB and HIV co-infection, particularly among the injecting drug users (IDU). It is difficult to reach out to the IDU community to deliver healthcare services and need to work in partnerships is clearly critical. "Without addressing HIV and IDU issues, it will be very difficult to effectively respond to TB" says Dr Bam. People who use injecting drugs, and co-infected with HIV/TB, are also at increased risk of Hepatitis C (HCV) in Nepal.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer. HCV transmission occurs when traces of blood from an infected person enter the body of a HCV-negative person. Like HIV, HCV is spread through sharing injection equipment, through needle stick or other sharps injuries, or less frequently from infected mothers to their babies.
HCV transmission rates are higher than that of HIV, and the condition is often more severe in drug users. People who share injection equipment are vulnerable to HCV and HIV infection, says Dr Bam. In Nepal, there is a separate health programme to respond to HCV, informs Dr Bam. However TB and HIV programmes in Nepal work much more collaboratively, says he.
"Community participation is very essential for effective TB/HIV care in Nepal" emphasizes Dr Bam. Patients who have successfully completed TB treatment were leading district level TB committees to improve TB programme performance in many instances in Nepal.
The Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care, outlines the rights and responsibilities of people with tuberculosis. It empowers people with the disease and their communities through this knowledge. Dr Bam feels if the Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care can be used as a tool to empower people with TB to be aware of their rights and responsibilities, then the TB programme performance will be improved furthermore.
Published in
American Chronicle, USA
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
News Blaze, USA
Nabuur.com (Global Neighbour Network)
My News, Delhi, India
Topix
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
California Chronicle, California, USA
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh, India
Op-Ed News (OEN)
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Twitter
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar, India
News Track India, Delhi, India
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sindh Today, Pakistan
Medical News, Australia
Stop-TB eForum
Red Tram News
Los Angeles Chronicle, Los Angeles, USA
Addressing HIV and IDU issues vital for TB programmes in Nepal
Addressing HIV and IDU issues vital for TB programmes in Nepal
More than 90% of the diagnosed TB patients are successfully completing treatment in Nepal today. Nepal's anti-TB programme has received appreciation in the south-east Asian region which is the result of ongoing government commitment, community support, forging wide range of partnerships, and the use of innovative ways of ensuring access to Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) - especially in remote areas, says Dr Dirgh Singh Bam, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Nepal, who is also the former Vice-President of Nepal's Anti-Tuberculosis Association (NATA).
However it is due to poor programme performance of DOTS that ups the drug-resistant forms of TB including the multi drug-resistant TB (MDR TB). Up to 1.8% of new TB infections in Nepal, are of MDR-TB, informs Dr Bam.
MDR-TB is resistant to at least two of the best anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. These drugs are considered first-line drugs and are used to treat all persons with TB disease. Resistance to anti-TB drugs can occur when these drugs are misused or mismanaged. Examples include when patients do not complete their full course of treatment; when health-care providers prescribe the wrong treatment, the wrong dose, or length of time for taking the drugs; when the supply of drugs is not always available; or when the drugs are of poor quality, says Dr Bam.
Nepal reports up to 29% TB-HIV co-infection, says Dr Bam. He also talks about the TB and HIV co-infection, particularly among the injecting drug users (IDU). It is difficult to reach out to the IDU community to deliver healthcare services and need to work in partnerships is clearly critical. "Without addressing HIV and IDU issues, it will be very difficult to effectively respond to TB" says Dr Bam. People who use injecting drugs, and co-infected with HIV/TB, are also at increased risk of Hepatitis C (HCV) in Nepal.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne, infectious, viral disease that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer. HCV transmission occurs when traces of blood from an infected person enter the body of a HCV-negative person. Like HIV, HCV is spread through sharing injection equipment, through needle stick or other sharps injuries, or less frequently from infected mothers to their babies.
HCV transmission rates are higher than that of HIV, and the condition is often more severe in drug users. People who share injection equipment are vulnerable to HCV and HIV infection, says Dr Bam. In Nepal, there is a separate health programme to respond to HCV, informs Dr Bam. However TB and HIV programmes in Nepal work much more collaboratively, says he.
"Community participation is very essential for effective TB/HIV care in Nepal" emphasizes Dr Bam. Patients who have successfully completed TB treatment were leading district level TB committees to improve TB programme performance in many instances in Nepal.
The Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care, outlines the rights and responsibilities of people with tuberculosis. It empowers people with the disease and their communities through this knowledge. Dr Bam feels if the Patients' Charter for Tuberculosis Care can be used as a tool to empower people with TB to be aware of their rights and responsibilities, then the TB programme performance will be improved furthermore.
Published in
American Chronicle, USA
Thai Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghana News, Accra, Ghana
News Blaze, USA
Nabuur.com (Global Neighbour Network)
My News, Delhi, India
Topix
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
California Chronicle, California, USA
Northern News Lines, Chandigarh, India
Op-Ed News (OEN)
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Twitter
Bihar Times, Patna, Bihar, India
News Track India, Delhi, India
Media for Freedom, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sindh Today, Pakistan
Medical News, Australia
Stop-TB eForum
Red Tram News
Los Angeles Chronicle, Los Angeles, USA
Monday, May 19, 2008
TB News Summary: 19 May 2008: Issue 47
Monday, 19 May 2008
Issue 47
-------------
This issue summarizes the below given news in Hindi language, to read the news summary in Hindi, click here or go to:
http://tapedik.blogspot.com
To read the main news directly in English, click on the below given news-links today.
Thanks
-------------
Better to build a fence at the cliff's edge than a hospital at the bottom
Must read article written by a clinician who was instrumental in convincing US government to close TB sanitoriums in 1970s. Now he reflects back, pondering over the enormous challenges posed by drug-resistant TB... Read source article...
Carbon monoxide (CO) in tobacco smoke, etc triggers tuberculosis
Carbon monoxide present in tobacco smoke, automobile emissions, etc triggers tuberculosis...
"This is the first description of a role for CO in mycobacterial pathogenesis, and may explain why smoking and air pollution contributes to TB," said Adrie Steyn, assistant professor in University of Alabama's Department of Microbiology and lead author on the study. Read source article...
Smoking is big risk factor for TB in Pakistan
The correlation between tobacco use and tuberculosis has never been more talked about - with TB becoming the single largest cause of death attributed to tobacco use in India and Pakistan (not cancer).
TB News Summary: 19 May 2008: Issue 47
Monday, 19 May 2008
Issue 47
-------------
This issue summarizes the below given news in Hindi language, to read the news summary in Hindi, click here or go to:
http://tapedik.blogspot.com
To read the main news directly in English, click on the below given news-links today.
Thanks
-------------
Better to build a fence at the cliff's edge than a hospital at the bottom
Must read article written by a clinician who was instrumental in convincing US government to close TB sanitoriums in 1970s. Now he reflects back, pondering over the enormous challenges posed by drug-resistant TB... Read source article...
Carbon monoxide (CO) in tobacco smoke, etc triggers tuberculosis
Carbon monoxide present in tobacco smoke, automobile emissions, etc triggers tuberculosis...
"This is the first description of a role for CO in mycobacterial pathogenesis, and may explain why smoking and air pollution contributes to TB," said Adrie Steyn, assistant professor in University of Alabama's Department of Microbiology and lead author on the study. Read source article...
Smoking is big risk factor for TB in Pakistan
The correlation between tobacco use and tuberculosis has never been more talked about - with TB becoming the single largest cause of death attributed to tobacco use in India and Pakistan (not cancer).
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