1 July 2009 - Tokyo - The Stop TB Partnership Japan today launched a fund to support advancement of clinical trials for new TB drugs and diagnostics under development by private Japanese enterprises in developing countries. The M/XDR-TB Frontier Fund will provide grants-in-aid to health facilities in developing countries deemed capable of conducting clinical trials in accordance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) / WHO Good Clinical Practice standards.
The grants-in-aid will be used for construction or renovation of hospital wards and microbiology lab facilities, provision of diagnostic and IT equipment, staff training and information sharing with individuals and institutions involved in the trials.
To ensure transparency and impartiality of the Fund, an Executive Committee of five to six qualified experts will be established under the Stop TB Partnership Japan Secretariat.