The USA helped Uzbekistan register 6 anti-tuberculosis drugs

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has helped register six drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis over the past year and a half.  The US embassy in Tashkent informed KALAMPIR.UZ about this.

With technical assistance from USAID, the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan adopted the World Health Organization's (WHO) accelerated drug registration procedure (CRP-cooperative registration procedure), which in Uzbekistan, provides fast and safe access to new medicines for patients with this disease.

In 2021, as a result of USAID’s large-scale technical assistance, two drugs that passed WHO prequalification for the treatment of tuberculosis – cycloserine and prothionamide – became the first drugs to be registered in Uzbekistan through the CRP.  The registration of these two drugs is of great importance for Uzbekistan, as the rate of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the country is one of the highest in the world.  Cycloserine and prothionamide are used as second-line drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis in patients who have failed standard anti-tuberculosis drugs.

In 2022, four more anti-tuberculosis drugs were registered.  These are rifampicin, isonazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride.  Currently, seven more anti-tuberculosis drugs that have passed the preliminary qualification of the WHO are in the process of registration.

These are multi-component Rifampin and Isonazid 150 mg /75 mg, Rifampin and Isonazid water-soluble tablets 75 mg / 50 mg, Isonazid, Rifampin, Rifampicin. Isoniazid.  Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol Hydrochloride USP 150mg/75mg/400mg/275mg and Ethambutol BP 400mg.

“USAID is proud to support the government of Uzbekistan’s efforts to fight TB.  Accelerating the registration of TB drugs in Uzbekistan will benefit other areas of the health system and ensure access to safe and effective drugs.  Expands the possibility,” said Cheri Gumapas, director of USAID’s Health Office in Uzbekistan.

The WHO drug registration procedure accelerates the registration of WHO-approved products in the country and accelerates the use of guaranteed quality drugs by patients and doctors.   Also, registered drugs are exempt from 15% VAT, unlike unregistered pharmaceuticals.