Tuberculosis (TB) research and innovation are essential to achieve global TB targets for reductions in TB incidence and TB deaths. WHO’s target to end TB was adopted in 2014 which required a global rate of decline in TB occurrence of 17% per year between 2025 and 2035. To achieve such an unprecedented decline during the next 10 years, WHO has identified areas like newer drugs, vaccination, and diagnostic methods for early identification of new cases and treating them effectively within a short span without relapses. To achieve this target, the member countries have agreed to arrange US $2 billion per year for research and innovation in the field of tuberculosis. Two new drugs and several new regimes have been developed for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis effectively.

Several new diagnostic tests are being developed. These include molecular tests for the detection of TB disease and drug resistance. Interferon-based gamma release assays (IGRAs) for the detection of TB infection and biomarker-based tests for the detection of TB. Computer-aided detection (CAD) for TB screening using digital chest radiography and three new antigen-based skin tests for TB infection that perform better than tuberculin skin tests are being tested. In September 2022, almost 16 new vaccines were in various stages of development for the early detection of tuberculosis and its resistance. Preliminary results suggest that vaccine products that meet the preferred product characteristics of new TB vaccines would have substantive and positive health and economic impacts.