G'day Newry,Bewdy!I think there are also some "fundamental"...

G'day Newry,

Bewdy!

I think there are also some "fundamental" reasons that we can expect a solid rerating of CST very shortly. ie FDA and Japan approvals with market penetration hot their heels.

Some interesting news today:

The second paragraph gives some detail of the difference in cost between treating TB infection (ie latent TB - 'swot CST detects) and treating full blown MDRTB disease (ie active).

A pretty conclusive case for diagnosing and treating latent TB before it becomes full blown active TB?

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allafrica.com/stories/200408260707.html

South Africa: Concern Over Impact of TB On HIV-Positive People

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
August 26, 2004
Posted to the web August 26, 2004
Johannesburg

South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has expressed concern over treatment adherence and the impact of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) on people living with HIV/AIDS.

The minister noted that the cost to government for treating MDR-TB was just over US $3,000 a year per person, but if infected patients completed the six to nine months' treatment it would only cost between $75 and $90 per patient annually.

BuaNews, the government news agency, quoted Tshabalala-Msimang as saying, "Now if you look at antiretrovirals, it is for the rest of your life. If it is difficult for patients to adhere to [TB] treatment for six to nine months, and we are expecting patients to stick to antiretrovirals for the rest of their lives ... I think it is really something we must be concerned about as South Africans."

She urged communities to support people infected with HIV/AIDS and TB, as treatment interruptions increased the patient's chances of developing resistance.

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