Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2005 Dr. Maria Freire

Dr. Maria C. Freire

Joining together in the fight against tuberculosis

Dr. Maria C. Freire, President and CEO of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance)

The TB Alliance is developing new drugs for tuberculosis. These new treatments are designed to be simpler, more effective and act faster than the standard six-month therapy.

Although much progress has been made in TB treatment over the past few years, almost two million people will die from this ancient disease in 2006. This is unacceptable. We can and must do better with new TB drugs that are affordable and accessible so that they reach the people who need them.

The partnership between Bayer HealthCare and the TB Alliance is a creative and pragmatic approach to solve this problem. By combining our scientific know-how with the commitment to affordable pricing, we can help achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal of fighting the tuberculosis pandemic and other devastating diseases that disproportionately affect the poor.