WHO R&D Portal

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a bold call to action alongside a consensus statement, urging the global health community to end the routine exclusion of pregnant and lactating women from tuberculosis (TB) research. This landmark initiative, developed through a global consensus process, outlines a comprehensive framework to ensure equitable access to TB innovations for all, including those most at risk. (Aug 2025)

The World Health Organization (WHO) published this week updated Target product profiles (TPPs) for tuberculosis (TB) screening tests. These TPPs define the most important characteristics and requirements to be considered in the development of new tests for systematic screening for TB and active TB case finding. (Aug 2025)

An analysis run by the Global Observatory on Health Research and Development of all clinical trials reveals that just 4% of clinical trials over the past decade allowed the inclusion of pregnant women. As a result, many pregnant and breastfeeding women are left without treatment options or take prescription medicines off-label, without adequate data to inform safe use. In response, WHO has established a global Task Force aiming at achieving the timely and ethical inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women in clinical research for medical health products by 2030. (June 2025)