Press Release: World Tuberculosis Day: EU-funded research announces the discovery of a promising drug against tuberculosis

March 24 was World Tuberculosis Day. The European Commission research funding programmes have been supporting research on this vital disease for many years. On 19 March 2009, one EU-funded project, 'New Medicines for Tuberculosis', announced the discovery of a new drug candidate, showing promising prospects for fighting not only Tuberculosis (TB), but also for combating the Extensively Drug Resistant form of the disease. The European Commission has provided over EUR 11 million for this research project. This drug's development is particularly striking as no new anti-tuberculosis drug has been devised in 40 years. This research could lead to a much-awaited new tuberculosis drug entering the market in the next decade.