Chiron Drug Enters Trials With Global Alliance for TB Drug Development

Chiron has announced that the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) has initiated Phase I clinical trials for the tuberculosis (TB) drug candidate PA-824.

Chiron granted the TB Alliance exclusive worldwide rights to PA-824 and related compounds in 2002, with a commitment to make the TB technology available royalty-free in endemic countries. Clinical trials are scheduled to begin this month. The TB Alliance is a public-private partnership developing affordable, new drug regimens for TB, and PA-824 is the first TB drug from the TB Alliance pipeline to enter clinical study.

After licensing PA-824 from Chiron, the TB Alliance directed and funded the drug's preclinical development. The NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases also provided in-kind support and technical assistance. More than 40 years have elapsed since the last novel compound was introduced for the treatment of TB, Chiron said.