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TBnet News June 2025


The Next TBnet Webinar – "Decoding resistance: Interpreting genotypic drug susceptibility results for M. tuberculosis"


Join us on July 10, 2025, at 17:00 CET for the latest webinar, "Decoding resistance: Interpreting genotypic drug susceptibility results for M. tuberculosis".


Reflections on the UNITE4TB Annual Meeting May 2025 from Graham Bothamley: So much ground taken, but still so much to do!

 

In May 2025, TBnet attended the UNITE4TB Annual Meeting in London, UK. Graham Bothamley represented TBnet at the meeting.


Derek Sloan, project lead at the UNITE4TB Consortium, began proceedings by highlighting the completion of the DECISION trial investigating the optimum dose of BTZ-043 (a DprE1 blocker) with bedaquiline and delamanid) and the progress of the PARADIGM4TB trial. PARADIGM4TB is investigating the treatment effect of eleven experimental arms containing moxifloxacin, linezolid and pyrazinamide in combination with bedaquiline, pretomanid/delamanid, BTZ-043, and ganfeborole compared to standard therapy for drug-susceptible disease. The next three years will see an exponential increase in work to complete the many trials, including introducing a new wave of experimental regimens in PARADIGM4TB. There was a general feeling of “now we can really get to work”! But we should also consider what will happen after the UNITE4TB program is complete - a UNITE4TB-2 to reap the benefits of the unified approaches to TB drug trials which have been developed?

 

The process of harmonizing drug trials in TB with a clearer set of variables and common outcome measures is essential but hard work! Work Package 2 reported on novel Phase 2A trial designs and candidate drugs for treatment regimens. New drugs planned for trials include ganfeberole (a leucyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitor) from GSK, quabodepistat (a DprE1 inhibitor) from Otsuka, alpibectir (an antagonist of an acid-related transcriptional regulator affecting the cell wall remodelling to allow lower doses of ethionamide) from GSK, and a bedaquiline analogue (TBAJ-587) from Johnson and Johnson. 

 

The scientific mission of UNITE4TB continues and biobanks are being set up in Borstel for human samples and Milan for microbiological samples. Pharmacogenomics will add an element lacking in most drug trials to date. Additionally, AI has been used to look at data from previous trials to predict outcome using the TB PACTS database. 

 

Progress in Work Package 11 (in which TBnet is a partner) was reported by Raquel Duarte with her usual enthusiasm. The career/mentorship program has recruited mentees and mentors with great success reported by those involved, and the ERS and TBnet webinars have been delivered as planned. A journal club for the UNITE4TB publications is in progress and there is a library of videos to watch, and all this content is available on the website https://www.unite4tb.org. 

 

It is time to get involved: Steering Committee Diagnostics Chair applications

 

We will be opening applications for the position of Diagnostics Chair on the TBnet Steering Committee next month. Full details of the process will be included in the next newsletter and on the website, but we would encourage people to consider applying.


Call for new study proposals

 

TBnet studies are recognised for their high quality and impact, and research is a cornerstone of the organisation. We are looking for fresh study proposals from our members, and we are confident there are many great ideas out there! We would welcome study proposals, even if they are at a very early stage, so please submit your ideas (https://www.tbnet.eu/proposal-submission).


TBnet meeting at The Union Conference 2025

 

The next TBnet Annual Meeting will take place on 18th November 2025 in Copenhagen. This will be a shorter meeting than our normal Annual Meeting with a focus on the administrative aspects and will coincide with the upcoming Union Conference 2025. A full agenda will be released closer to the time and we look forward to seeing many of you there!


In memoriam: Dr. Fanouris Kontos (1968-2025)


With deep respect and warm remembrance, we say goodbye to Dr. Fanouris Kontos - a dedicated

scientist, a trusted colleague, a quiet but steady presence in the field of mycobacteriology, and a friend and supporter of TBnet.


Dr. Kontos was an expert in bridging diagnostic excellence and clinical management, always eager to share his expertise with quiet generosity and unwavering precision. He was part of the faculty of the TBnet Academy in Athens 2024, where he allowed international scholars to gain hands-on experience in mycobacteriology in his laboratory. 


His work advanced the understanding and diagnosis of complex mycobacterial infections in Greece, offering clarity in uncertainty and hope in suffering. There was always space for thoughtful exchange, a willingness to listen, and a sense of shared purpose. Dr. Kontos was a person who never sought the spotlight, but his contribution was always visible where it mattered most. His absence will be felt deeply, both professionally and personally.

TBnet News

Editor – Conor Tweed

Layout & formatting – Anne Oleischeck

Cover picture – Conor Tweed



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