VOA标准英语2012--New TB Drug Regimen Launched in Africa, South America

New TB Drug Regimen Launched in Africa, South America

With nearly 4000 people dying of tuberculosis¹ each day around the world, public health officials say TB control efforts urgently need new drugs. 

The clinical trials being launched by the TB Alliance - at eight sites in Africa and South America - will test a new drug regimen against this deadly and highly contagious² respiratory infection. This new regimen deploys³ a new anti-bacterial drug that promises to kill the TB bacillus more quickly - in combination with a known, frequently used drug. Dr. Anthony Fauci - director of the National Institute for Allergy⁴ and Infectious Diseases, says the regimen will be tested against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant⁵ strains of TB.

“So this is an important step forward in the broad quest that we have now for several years to develop not only new individual drugs but drug regimens for TB,” Fauci said. 

Dr. Mel Spigelman is President of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. He believes the new regimen could transform worlwide TB treatment efforts. He says the new treatment cycle would be shorter and less costly⁶ than the existing six-to-30-month regimen of today's multi-drug cocktail⁷.

“It means that we have gotten to the next step and much closer to the time when we can ultimately treat TB just like any other ordinary infection which means over a period of just maybe a few weeks at the most with simple drugs,” Spigelman said.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says TB can be better controlled if there is a robust⁸ pipeline⁹ of new drugs against the disease - because over time, the bacterium¹⁰ becomes resistant to different drug combinations.

“Regulators around the world need to really think long and hard about what the pathways are to get drugs on the market - both new combinations of TB drugs and new single-TB drugs,” Woodcock said.

“I think one of the biggest challenges is to find the right drug and improve the right drug and the diagnostic regime, as well as having the capacity in the country to deliver it to the key population affected,” said Robert Clay of the U.S. Agency for International Development. He notes there are currently 10 experimental TB drugs in clinical trials - research largely supported by funding from the U.S. and other donor¹¹ countries.

But experts say even after the drugs are approved, it can be years before they become part of regular TB treatment regimens. The entire chain - from drug development to delivery - must be streamlined, experts say, if the battle against TB is to be won. 

1 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

2 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

3 deploys   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的第三人称单数 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• It then deploys "decoy" programs designed to attract the virus. 然后，它释放“诱饵”去吸引病毒。
• But when that doesn't work, he deploys his secret defense mechanism. 但没有效果，它要施展绝密自卫武器了。

4 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

5 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

8 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

9 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

10 bacterium   

n.(pl.)bacteria 细菌

参考例句：

• The bacterium possibly goes in the human body by the mouth.细菌可能通过口进入人体。
• A bacterium is identified as the cause for his duodenal ulcer.一种细菌被断定为造成他十二指肠溃疡的根源。

11 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。