Challenge Solution: TB Alliance Works to Eradicate One of the World’s Deadliest Diseases

In late 2007, the TB Alliance, a not-for-profit, product development partnership (PDP) dedicated to accelerating the discovery and development of new and improved drugs to treat tuberculosis, posted a Challenge on the InnoCentive web site. The Challenge was seeking a theoretical solution to simplify the manufacturing process of a current drug compound. This new methodology would improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of producing the compound, making it more widely available and more effective against the spread of TB, which is responsible for one death every 20 seconds. The solution was provided by two Solvers, one of whom was a scientist with a very personal stake in finding a cure for TB. His contribution to developing a cost effective process will benefit millions suffering from TB especially from developing and underdeveloped countries.