PeerLINC Recognizes One Year of Transforming Drug-Resistant TB Treatment Through Faster, Equitable Technical Assistance
Innovative initiative supported eight countries in accelerating the implementation of shorter, safer, and more effective treatments for drug-resistant TB in its first year
MANILA, Philippines (March 25 2025) – The Peer-to-Peer Learning for Innovative Cures (PeerLINC) Knowledge Hub, an innovative learning initiative, proudly marks its one-year anniversary, celebrating a year of groundbreaking achievements in advancing the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). A collaboration between TB Alliance and Tropical Disease Foundation, Inc. (TDF), in close collaboration with the Department of Health, Philippines, PeerLINC was launched around World TB Day in 2024. In the year since, the program has empowered eight countries—Brazil, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, and Tanzania—to accelerate the adoption of shorter, safer, and more effective DR-TB treatments, improving lives and strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.
Through its peer-led, country-tailored approach to technical assistance (TA), PeerLINC has significantly reduced the time needed to introduce new medical technologies and has helped level the playing field for countries with limited access to traditional TA resources. This has allowed participating countries to move from older and longer DR-TB treatment regimens to modern, people-friendly, six-month therapies, known as BPaL and BPaLM, which have improved treatment success rates.
“All PeerLINC-partner countries are scaling up implementation of BPaL/M regimens,” said Sandeep Juneja, senior vice president of Market Access at TB Alliance. “This is excellent news for people living with tuberculosis. We are delighted that countries are working collaboratively to accelerate access to lifesaving new TB treatments and proving that innovative models can bridge the gap in global health. We are honored to play a role in this progressive initiative along with our partners and PeerLINC.”
Historically, obtaining technical assistance for implementing new treatments has been an expensive and time-consuming challenge, with several countries often struggling to access support. By simplifying and speeding access to TA, PeerLINC has fundamentally changed this dynamic, offering customized, high-quality support to countries regardless of size, resources, or DR-TB burden. This approach has already accelerated the availability of life-saving treatments for thousands of people who would have otherwise faced longer timelines for access to innovative care.
Shortly after PeerLINC’s formal launch, it worked with Peru, which has since emerged as one of the leaders in implementing new drug-resistant TB treatments in South America. More than 1,200 people have benefited from shortened oral treatments for DR-TB, and DR-TB treatment success rates have risen from 60% to 90%. Dr. Valentina Alarcón, Executive Director of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, noted, “The implementation of BPaLM is making a tremendous difference in the experiences of people being treated for drug-resistant TB and those providing that treatment. Peru is really establishing itself as a regional leader in ensuring our people have access to the best available therapies. Participating in PeerLINC has helped accelerate the pace at which we’ve been able to scale these new regimens.”
More recently, PeerLINC worked with a delegation of Brazilian health officials to expedite implementation of shorter drug-resistant TB treatments and scale the training programs needed to support national rollout. In speaking on the value of working with PeerLINC, Dr. Fernanda Dockhorn, Director of the National Tuberculosis Program in Brazil, said, “Working with PeerLINC, we were able to quickly develop a plan for implementing shorter, more effective treatments for drug-resistant TB cases in Brazil, which included expanded training on the use of short course regimens for our treatment providers. We now feel set up to ensure Brazilians are able to access the best treatments available.”
“PeerLINC’s peer-to-peer experience sharing model has been incredibly well-received by countries seeking support,” said Dr. Eden Mendoza-Hisey, head of PeerLINC. “The Philippines was one of the first countries to widely implement shorter and more effective DR-TB treatments and through PeerLINC we are translating our experience and expertise to the world, speeding access to treatment to those in need, and developing a larger crop of global experts who go on to train others and build a community of practice.”
PeerLINC continues to drive local capacity-building in DR-TB response efforts. With its rapid technical assistance model, PeerLINC is not only changing lives today but laying the foundation for a future where all people have access to the best possible care—without delay.
About PeerLINC
Based in Manilla, the PeerLINC Knowledge Hub provides practical training and technical support to help speed programmatic implementation of innovative, effective tuberculosis treatments globally. PeerLINC follows a peer-to-peer model for sharing best practices, experiences, tools, and materials by connecting experts from early adopter countries, with other countries interested in implementing the latest TB treatments to help accelerate widespread access to improved TB cures. PeerLINC operates in collaboration with the Tropical Disease Foundation, Inc. (TDF) and TB Alliance, with support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs, and in close collaboration with the Department of Health, Philippines. PeerLINC’s initial focus is helping countries to implement the WHO-recommended BPaL/M regimens for treating drug-resistant TB.