SA at advanced stage on TB drug

By Simon Nare

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has revealed that South Africa is on the brink of making a breakthrough in manufacturing a TB vaccine, the “M 72 TB”.

Addressing the World TB Day commemoration at Gamalakhe township outside Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, Mashatile said trials conducted had so far yielded promising results and the country was on the threshold of a breakthrough.

“We are indeed readying ourselves for local manufacturing and a rapid national roll-out once all procedural protocols have been met,” said the deputy president.

He said South Africa was a global leader in the introduction of novel TB drugs and treatment regimes as well as innovative diagnostic tools and approaches.

He announced the launch of End TB campaign aimed at testing five million people by the end of March next year, and annually thereafter.

Mashatile said this would in turn result in a 29% reduction