Eli Lilly and Company yesterday unveiled a global effort with the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and Purdue University to increase the number of trained personnel and drugs available to treat the expanding crisis of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

The company’s total contribution to this effort is valued at $70 million upto 2006.

As part of this global plan, Lilly will be transfer its technology to manufacture two antibiotics for treatment of MDR-TB to nations where the disease is most prevalent. The company will be establishing a Center of Excellence for the training of medical personnel in the treatment of MDR-TB to help prevent further spread of the disease.

Lilly will also be leading an effort to establish a comprehensive surveillance program to monitor the development of resistance against the antibiotics used to treat MDR-TB. The company will also be investing in facilities that will enable the company to double its current production of one of the essential drugs used to treat MDR-TB. The company will also provide both Lilly antibiotics at a fraction of their cost to WHO Green Light Committee approved DOTS-Plus treatment programs around the world.

"Lilly has been a global healthcare leader for more than 125 years. This initiative addresses a serious and growing health care need while establishing a model for bringing together public and private organizations for a greater good," said Sidney Taurel, Lilly chairman, president and CEO. "Through this innovative application of resources and expertise, and in concert with the WHO, CDC, Harvard and Purdue University, Lilly is determined to provide answers that matter."

"The partnership and cooperation that Eli Lilly and Company is showing with this project will strengthen global efforts to address Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "This initiative is one of the few multi-dimensional efforts that involves aspects of disease prevention, treatment and surveillance, drug supply and the sharing of formerly proprietary technology and information with foreign companies to address a growing public health threat. Lilly is to be commended for its leadership in this innovative public-private initiative."