TB Treatment & Care Guidelines Meeting – Geneva 2025
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WHO to Convene Guideline Development Group meeting on Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment and Care
Table of Contents
Overview
The World Health organization (WHO) will convene a Guideline Development Group (GDG) meeting in Geneva,Switzerland,from November 24-28,2025,to update treatment guidelines for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB).This meeting focuses on incorporating new evidence regarding novel drugs,regimens,and supportive care interventions for patients with drug-resistant TB,aiming to accelerate progress towards the Enduring Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO End TB Strategy. The meeting was announced on november 4, 2025.
Key Areas for Guideline Updates
The GDG will review evidence related to several critical areas, including:
- Novel 6-Month Regimens: Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of new 6-month treatment regimens for patients diagnosed with MDR/RR-TB or pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB).This includes data from trials involving bedaquiline, delamanid, linezolid, and clofazimine, specifically the endTB-Q and BEAT-TB South Africa trials.
- Updated Regimen Data: A comprehensive review of updated data on 6-month BPaL and BPaLC regimens, drawing from studies like TB-PRACTECAL and other operational research initiatives. This is particularly relevant for patients with quinolone resistance.
- Nurse-Led Palliative Care: Assessment of the effectiveness of nurse-led palliative care packages for individuals with MDR/RR-TB, based on recent trial evidence.
Background: The Challenge of Drug-Resistant TB
Drug-resistant TB remains a significant global health threat. MDR-TB is defined as resistance to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, the two moast powerful first-line anti-TB drugs. XDR-TB is a more severe form, resistant to isoniazid, rifampicin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three second-line injectable drugs. Treatment for drug-resistant TB is longer, more toxic, and less effective then treatment for drug-susceptible TB. New drugs and shorter, more effective regimens are crucial to improving outcomes and reducing the global burden of disease.
According to the WHO, an estimated 450,000 new cases of MDR-TB occurred globally in 2023, representing a significant public health challenge.the development of updated guidelines is essential to ensure that countries have access to the most current and effective treatment strategies.
Meeting details and access to Information
The WHO’s department for HIV,Tuberculosis,Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections is organizing the meeting. The GDG meeting will take place from November 24-28, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Further details about the meeting, including the agenda and participant list, can be found in the official public notice from the WHO.