US Firm Gets $220 Million Bill Gates Grant to Combat TB

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a grant of up to $220 million over five years to Aeras, one of the world's largest not-for-profit biotechs, developing modern vaccines to combat tuberculosis.

The grant to Rockville, Maryland based firm places it at the forefront of a global scientific initiative aimed at developing safe, effective vaccines against tuberculosis, a disease that infects two billion people worldwide.

The WHO estimates the global economic burden of TB at nearly $12 billion a year, with India and China together accounting for more than half the global economic toll.

Aeras estimates $400-500 million will be needed over the next five years if the organization is to accomplish critical TB vaccine development goals set jointly with global research and development partners.

This grant provides approximately half of the estimated cost of meeting 2012–2016 milestone targets, while addressing significant scientific questions that must be answered in order to further successful development of new vaccines.

"There is an urgent need for the global community to support the full range of tools to eliminate tuberculosis," said Trevor Mundel, President of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.