title: Compassionate use of and expanded access to new drugs for drug-resistant tuberculosis.
abstract: Several new classes of anti-tuberculosis agents are likely to become available in the coming decade. Ensuring prompt access to these drugs for patients without other treatment options is an important medical and public health issue. This article reviews the current state of 'compassionate  use' and 'expanded access' programs for these new drugs, and identifies several shortcomings that will limit patient access to the drugs. A series of five steps is outlined that will need to be taken by national health bodies, international agencies and non-governmental organizations  to prevent undue delays in access to new tuberculosis drugs for patients who could benefit from them. Following these steps can ensure that patients will be able to benefit from access to these drugs, while minimizing the risk of emergence of resistance to the drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. rhorsbu@bu.edu
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Horsburgh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haxaire-Theeuwes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lienhardt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wingfield
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McNeeley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pyne-Mercier
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keshavjee
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Varaine
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057176:Compassionate Use Trials / Q000379:methods*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D006801:Humans; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational