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Everything About Our Fight Against TB

A legacy of commitment, innovation, and partnership in tackling a global scourge

The Challenge

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global epidemic and is the leading cause of infectious disease mortality worldwide, with around 1.25 million annual deaths.1 Global targets for reducing the TB disease burden are faced with daunting challenges, including funding shortfalls, climate change, conflict, migration and displacement, pandemics, and drug-resistant tuberculosis.1 Addressing the problem requires a concerted effort and cooperation across governments, healthcare providers, communities, companies, and individuals to accelerate progress.

“It is imperative that we unite across all sectors and stakeholders, to confront these pressing issues and ramp up our efforts.”1

Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Tuberculosis Programme.
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Over 15 Years providing TB Tests

What Danaher and Cepheid are Doing

Early and accurate detection of tuberculosis, especially drug-resistant strains, is a significant global health priority. Cepheid, a Danaher Company, has supported TB testing in high-burden countries and worldwide for over 15 years.

The Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test, introduced in 2009 in collaboration with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), was a first-of-its-kind molecular test that could simultaneously detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes TB) and potential resistance to rifampin, one of the most powerful TB drugs. The test was endorsed by the WHO in 2010 and was anticipated to revolutionize TB care by reducing the time to receive results from months to just under two hours.2

“It’s basically a development that the world has been waiting for, for literally decades.”3

Marion Raviglione, Director of Stop TB at the Global Press Conference announcing the WHO endorsement in 2010.
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Cartridge with virus

Cepheid’s subsequent innovations to combat TB included the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test designed for increased sensitivity and faster results (80 minutes). Leveraging novel multiplex test technology, the Xpert MTB/XDR test was launched in 2020 in collaboration with FIND to address the increasing problem of extensively drug-resistant (XDR)4 TB, the most serious form of TB.

In 2024, MTB/RIF Ultra became the first test for TB diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing to WHO's prequalification standards.5

“This first prequalification of a diagnostic test for tuberculosis marks a critical milestone in WHO’s efforts to support countries in scaling up and accelerating access to high-quality TB assays that meet both WHO recommendations and its stringent quality, safety and performance standards”5

Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products
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Lab tech using system to run test

Cepheid continues to invest in innovation to enable further advancements in diagnostic testing for tuberculosis and other critical infectious diseases. Developing a diagnostic test or instrument takes months to years, requiring significant investments in capital, infrastructure, manpower, and intellect. We are immensely proud of—and grateful to—the internal associates and external partners, regulatory bodies, and global health agencies who make this important work possible.

In 2023, Danaher announced that as part of its longstanding efforts to expand access to diagnostic testing, it would provide Cepheid's Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra tests at cost to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (Global Fund) and to less-developed countries eligible for Cepheid's Global Access Program. 

“TB is not just a health issue—it is an economic issue, a development issue, and a security issue, and we need strong collaborative efforts from heads of states, private and public sector to really move the needle. We need far more diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. We need more funding, more programs to address barriers to access and more political commitment to help the people who need it most.”6

Peter Sands, Executive Director, Global Fund
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Partnerships

In 2011, Cepheid launched its Global Access program in partnership with key non-profit organizations, to provide special pricing for high-burden developing countries. Today, the program reaches every corner of the globe impacted by deadly diseases like TB, HIV, and Ebola.

Providing the Global Fund and partners with GeneXpert® diagnostic systems and Xpert TB tests at cost for low- and middle-income countries helps improve the lives of millions of people. We are proud to have played a part in bringing more accurate and affordable tests to the people who need them most and look forward to continuing this work.

Nicholas BE quote

References

  1. Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2024-tuberculosis-resurges-as-top-infectious-disease-killer
  2. WHO says Cepheid rapid test will transform TB care. Reuters.com. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tuberculosis-test/who-says-cepheid-rapid-test-will-transform-tb-care-idUSTRE6B71RF20101208/
  3. WHO Endorses New Rapid Diagnostic Test for TB | Working Group for New TB Drugs. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.newtbdrugs.org/news/who-endorses-new-rapid-diagnostic-test-tb
  4. WHO announces updated definitions of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/27-01-2021-who-announces-updated-definitions-of-extensively-drug-resistant-tuberculosis#:~:text=Extensively%20drug%20resistant%20TB%20is%20a%20more,cornerstone%20medicines%20for%20the%20treatment%20of%20TB.
  5. WHO announces first prequalification of a tuberculosis diagnostic test. Accessed March 21, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/05-12-2024-who-announces-first-prequalification-of-a-tuberculosis-diagnostic-test
  6. Peter Sands, Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
    From the TB Innovation Summit https://www.stoptb.org/news/global-health-and-business-leaders-pledge-major-commitments-to-end-tuberculosis
  7. Brooke E Nichols, Alexandra de Nooy, Naseem Cassim, Lucia Hans, Manuel Pedro da Silva, Kamy Chetty, Kyra H Grantz, Alvin X Han, Andrew N Phillips, Lise Jamieson, Lesley E Scott, Wendy S Stevens - Ten-year health impact, economic impact and return on investment of the South African molecular diagnostics programme for HIV, tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2: BMJ Global Health 2024;9:e015830.

Success Stories and Lessons Learned in the Global Fight Against TB