Tuberculosis remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, demanding relentless innovation and collaboration. "Champions of Change: Organizations Pioneering the Fight Against Tuberculosis" highlights the key players leading the charge against TB—driving breakthroughs in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention. From cutting-edge research to community-based interventions, these organizations are shaping a future free from TB and bringing us closer to eradication.

Mylab Discovery Solutions – Pioneering Indigenous TB Diagnostics

Mylab Discovery Solutions aims to help eliminate TB in India through innovative diagnostic solutions. They developed the PathoDetect kit, India's first indigenous TB detection kit which identifies TB and drug resistance to Rifampicin and Isoniazid in a single test. This RT-PCR-based kit works with Mylab Compact devices for automated testing, processing 8 or more samples in around two hours.

Additionally, Mylab offers the Cy-TB, the next-generation latent TB detection test, launched in partnership with the Serum Institute of India. The test has been recommended for use by the Expert Review Panel (ERP) of the Global Fund.

Further, Mylab introduced MyBeam, a handheld X-ray device designed to facilitate screening in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

These tests enhance TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, facilitating early detection and appropriate treatment. Mylab is committed to making TB testing accessible, accurate, and cost-effective.

Molbio Diagnostics – Revolutionizing Rapid TB Testing

Molbio Diagnostics aims to revolutionize healthcare by providing cutting edge, gold standard point-of-care diagnostic solutions,  at the point of care. Their flagship product, the Truenat Real-Time Quantitative micro PCR system, a multi-disease platform enables rapid and accurate TB testing in various settings, including remote areas. This technology decentralizes diagnostics, ensuring early diagnosis and timely treatment initiation.

In its mission to offer a complete end-to-end solution for TB care, Molbio in 2023, added ProRad Atlas, an AI-powered handheld ultra-portable X-ray to its basket of solutions.  Fit for use without any infrastructure, ProRad Atlas can be carried by a technician on a backpack to the last mile and used for mass screening for TB at the community level. This can be followed by a confirmatory test on Truenat. In 2024-2025, Molbio will continue to expand its impact by rolling out other Truenat across the world, enabling governments and treatment providers to fight this epidemic.  Through these efforts, Molbio is committed to significantly reducing the TB burden in India and beyond.

Qure.ai – AI-Powered Breakthroughs in TB Detection

Qure.ai leverages artificial intelligence to enhance tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in India. Their qXR solution analyzes chest X-rays to detect presumptive cases of TB, providing rapid results in just under a minute, significantly reducing diagnosis time. Additionally, their qTrack platform facilitates seamless patient management throughout the diagnostic and treatment process. Deployed across 95+ countries, their technology has impacted over 29 million lives so far, also targeting underserved communities. Both qXR and qTrack have been evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are CE-certified, reinforcing their reliability in TB screening and patient management. Collaborations with organizations like the India Health Fund and PATH aim to improve early TB detection and patient outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.

Lupin Limited – Advancing TB Treatment and Accessibility

Lupin Limited, with its goal to combat tuberculosis (TB), aims to be the largest global supplier of first-line anti-TB drugs globally. The company's commitment to providing affordable and innovative therapies is bolstered by its strategic partnerships, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The collaborations, including those with the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development and the Indian government, play a crucial role in enhancing access to quality medicines at affordable prices, adopting a collaborative approach to public health.

In 2024-2025, Lupin has continued its commitment to combat tuberculosis by introducing new formulations, including a fixed-dose combination of Rifapentine and Isoniazid, to improve TB prevention and treatment. Lupin’s ongoing partnerships and innovative approaches are a testament to the unwavering vision of a TB-free world.

Cepheid – Transforming TB Diagnostics with Automation

Cepheid is dedicated to improving healthcare by pioneering molecular diagnostics that combine speed, accuracy, and flexibility. The company's GeneXpert® systems and Xpert® tests automate highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, providing A Better Way for institutions of any size to perform world-class PCR testing. Cepheid’s broad test portfolio spans respiratory infections, blood virology, women’s and sexual health, TB and emerging infectious diseases, healthcare-associated infectious diseases, oncology, and human genetics. The company’s solutions deliver actionable results where they are needed most – from central laboratories and hospitals to near-patient settings.

As per the NTEP Report, in 2023 – over 63000 MDR-TB were Notified, Cepheid’s fight against Drug resistance TB Continues with Xpert MTB/XDR which enables rapid molecular DST. When combined with the frontline Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test, it sets new standards by detecting mutations associated with resistance to isoniazid (INH), fluoroquinolones (FLQ), second-line injectable drugs (SLIDs), and ethionamide (ETH) in a single test. This assay was recommended and introduced in the Guidelines by NTEP.

ECHO India – Bridging Gaps in TB Knowledge and Care
 

ECHO India, established in 2008, is a pioneering not-for-profit organization transforming healthcare, education, gender, and livelihoods through its collaborative “Hub & Spoke” learning model. By connecting frontline workers with experts and resources, ECHO India enhances capacity-building and addresses disparities across sectors.

In support of the National TB Elimination Programme’s (NTEP) goal to eliminate TB, ECHO India partnered with the Central TB Division (CTD) and other National TB institutions including the National Institute for Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), Delhi, NIRT Chennai, State Tuberculosis Cells (STCs) and State TB Training and Demonstration Centres (STDCs). Through the ECHO model, ECHO has extended its reach to remote areas such as Kupwara, Baramulla, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and the Northeast, where access to specialized medical care is limited. By connecting various categories of frontline workers with experts, we ensure access to the latest practices and protocols. A key feature of our model is case-based learning, allowing clinicians to present challenging cases and collaboratively find solutions. With over 100 hubs and 7 lakh+ attendances in TB alone, the ECHO Model with its "All Teach, All Learn" approach has become integral to the revamped NTEP, empowering healthcare providers to work towards a TB-free India.

 DeepTek – AI-Driven Lung Health Screening for TB

DeepTek’s AI-powered lung health screening solution offers a seamless, end-to-end approach, operating both online and offline to ensure accessibility in remote areas. It features a robust Patient Registration and Vulnerability Assessment System, while its advanced AI swiftly analyzes Chest X-rays, identifying TB Suspects within a minute. The solution helps in centralizing the data and gives analytics, enabling a data-driven public health strategy.

Beyond TB detection, it identifies 20+ chest pathologies, including pneumonia and other critical conditions. Deployed across 175+ sites, it has extended its reach to some of the most underserved regions. To date, over 2 million individuals have been screened using Genki, significantly impacting global lung health.

Backed by regulatory approvals, the solution is US FDA-cleared, CDSCO-approved, and ICMR validated. In Tamil Nadu, it has played a crucial role in increasing TB detection yield by 25x, significantly enhancing early diagnosis and intervention efforts.

IPE Global – Advancing TB Control Through Innovation
 

IPE Global stands at the forefront of tuberculosis (TB) control programs in India through comprehensive, multi-faceted interventions across the healthcare ecosystem. It provides technical support and policy advisory services, and pilots innovative initiatives to strengthen national and state TB programs. The organization also focuses on enhancing health systems through healthcare worker training, diagnostic network improvement, and digital health integration.

Its flagship initiative, Nikshay Patr, is the world's first Pay-for-Performance program designed to improve the nutritional status and treatment outcomes of TB patients. Led by IPE Global in partnership with the Central TB Division, the Government of Madhya Pradesh, and USAID, this program enabled evidence-based TB management.

Fostering public-private partnerships, IPE Global drives collaborative initiatives like the Corporate TB Pledge, which engages the corporate sector in TB prevention, through joint efforts with government and international development partners. The organization, through innovative financing approaches, also facilitates investments toward scale-up of market-based solutions to improve the accessibility and affordability of TB diagnostic services in underserved communities.
 

BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company) – Strengthening TB Detection and Management

Becton Dickinson (BD) in India is actively involved in tuberculosis (TB) detection through innovative diagnostic solutions and strategic partnerships. They have developed the BACTEC MGIT automated mycobacterial detection system, which helps in detecting TB drug sensitivity, aiding in the fight against multi-drug resistant TB. Over 100 of these systems have been installed across India.

BD continues its commitment to TB elimination through initiatives like the TB Guardianship Program, launched to enhance knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals on effective TB diagnostic practices. Additionally, BD has introduced Project SANKALP, a catalytic effort aimed at strengthening TB detection and management by supporting patients throughout their treatment journey. This project facilitates early detection and timely management of TB cases, aligning with India's goal to eliminate TB by 2025. BD's efforts are part of the broader Corporate TB Pledge, supporting the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) in India

Fighting Tuberculosis with Innovation: Premas Life Sciences and Uncoded Lead the Way

Uncoded by Premas Life Sciences is transforming drug-resistant TB detection with its tNGS Panel—a faster, more precise, and cost-effective solution. Backed by the WHO’s latest TB guidelines, this innovation enables rapid, high-accuracy screening and supports India’s fight against TB.
 

As India intensifies efforts to eliminate TB, Uncoded by Premas Life Sciences (PLS) is pioneering a breakthrough in drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) diagnostics. With the introduction of Amplicon-Based Targeted Gene Sequencing (tNGS) Panels, Uncoded aims to revolutionize TB detection by offering:

●    Faster & Cost-Effective Screening – Detects known drug resistance mutations with higher accuracy than conventional PCR-based assays.
●    Scalability & Accessibility – High-throughput testing for wider clinical adoption.
●    Direct DNA Compatibility – Eliminates the need for culture-based testing, reducing turnaround time.

Aligned with the WHO's latest TB guidelines, Uncoded’s approach ensures precise genetic insights, enabling clinicians to make informed treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. Currently, PLS is collaborating with leading hospitals and research institutions to validate this cutting-edge solution.

By developing an India-specific diagnostic workflow, Uncoded strengthens the "Make in India" initiative, ensuring homegrown, high-quality molecular diagnostics. On this World TB Day, Uncoded reaffirms its commitment to fighting TB through innovation, precision, and purpose-driven healthcare solutions—because the future of TB diagnostics is faster, smarter, and genomics-driven.
    
Disclaimer: This feature highlights select organizations contributing to the fight against tuberculosis (TB). However, many other organizations are making significant strides in TB eradication but are not included in this list. Additionally, the order in which the organizations are presented does not reflect any ranking or level of impact.