To mark World Tuberculosis Day, the Australian Government says it will invest $24 million US dollars for new drugs and testing in the Asia-Pacific region.
$7.8 million will go to the TB Alliance to support clinical trials of new treatments against the multi drug-resistant disease.
The office of the Foreign Minister says the new oral treatment has the potential to shorten and simplify TB treatment and reduce the cost of treating the disease by up to 90 per cent.
The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics will also receive $7.8 million to accelerate the development of better diagnostic tools and testing for TB and malaria.
Medicines for Malaria Venture will receive the final third of the funds for the development of antimalarial drugs.
The package builds on an additional $12 million US dollars to support TB control in Papua New Guinea.
Photomicrograph of a sputum sample containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Photo: Centers for Disease Control and PHIL
