After months of debate, international declaration on fighting TB nears completion

After months of contentious negotiations, there’s a resolution in sight for an international declaration on tackling tuberculosis. On Sept. 26, the United Nations is holding the first high-level meeting on efforts to end TB. Governments have been hashing out a policy declaration ahead of that meeting for months. The U.S. caused a stir by pressing other nations to change language that would have given countries leeway to let public agencies or generic drug makers copy a patented medicine without a brand-name company’s permission. South Africa spoke up and the wording was tweaked so that countries will actively commit to make TB medications affordable. Governments have until 10 a.m. ET today to voice any objections, but so far, there aren’t any.