New WHO report: how to ensure access to future tuberculosis vaccines
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report titled “Catalysing solutions for equitable global access and sustainable financing for novel tuberculosis vaccines for adults and adolescents.” The document was prepared by the Working Group on Financing and Access of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council.
EEC and WHO/Europe agree on a 2026–2028 cooperation plan
On October 29, 2025, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) approved for signature a new three-year action plan to implement the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe.
A New Drug for Chronic Hepatitis D: Brelovitug and Its Prospects
The biopharmaceutical company Bluejay Therapeutics is conducting clinical trials of a novel therapeutic candidate, Brelovitug (BJT-778), developed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis delta (hepatitis D). In 2025, two global Phase III clinical studies — AZURE-1 and AZURE-2 — were launched to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug.
Barriers to Accessing Tuberculosis Medicines in Europe: Meeting in Brussels
On October 14, Brussels hosted a panel discussion titled “Removing Barriers: Ensuring Access to Essential Tuberculosis Medicines in the EU and EEA,” organized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The event brought together representatives of European institutions, the World Health Organization (WHO), national health authorities, and civil society organizations.
International Meeting on Strategic Access Planning for Health Technologies
On October 1–2, 2025, the Securing Access through End-to-End Design Workshop took place at the Global Health Campus in Geneva. The event was organized by Unitaid, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Center for Global Health Policy & Politics at Georgetown University, and Treatment Action Group (TAG).
International Scientific and Practical Conference “Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis: From National Successes to Regional Leadership”
On October 2–3, 2025, the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis: From National Successes to Regional Leadership” is taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with the participation of the ITPC EECA team.
Lenacapavir at $40 per Year in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Unitaid, CHAI, Wits RHI, and pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s have signed an agreement aimed at ensuring access to injectable lenacapavir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 120 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) starting in 2027. The annual cost of the drug will be just $40, with the initial oral lead-in regimen priced at no more than $17.
UN Secretary-General proposes to “close down” UNAIDS by the end of 2026
The UN Secretary-General has presented a report under UN80 — Workstream 3, which outlines reforms to the United Nations system. Among them is a proposal to “complete the work of UNAIDS by the end of 2026,” followed by the “integration of its capacity and expertise into the relevant UN development system structures in 2027.”
Elections to the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) have been announced in Belarus
In Belarus, elections have been launched to select members of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for a new three-year term. The newly elected body will serve from December 2025 to November 2028.
GDF Announces Bedaquiline Price Reduction
The non-profit Global Drug Facility (GDF), a division of the Stop TB Partnership, has announced a price reduction for the life-saving drug used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) — bedaquiline. A full treatment course produced by Lupin will now be available at USD 63, representing a 30% decrease, while the cost of the full BPaL(M) regimen will fall below USD
