StatinTB Consortium Final Project Meeting
On 21 August 2025, the StatinTB Consortium convened virtually for its Final Project Meeting. StatinTB is a proof-of-concept clinical trial conducted in South Africa, aimed at evaluating the potential of statins—well-known cholesterol-lowering drugs—as repurposed treatments for tuberculosis (TB). The primary objective is to determine whether the addition of statins at the conclusion of standard TB therapy can reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease among patients recovering from tuberculosis episodes. This approach is expected to enhance patients’ quality of life and decrease the likelihood of recurrent tuberculosis.
An integral aspect of the project involves strengthening the capabilities of clinical, laboratory, and administrative staff at the University of Namibia (UNAM). While the EDCTP grant is set to conclude in September 2025, the clinical trial remains ongoing, hindered by several external factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges related to participant enrolment. Consequently, recruitment and follow-up of participants will continue with support from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Cape Town (UCT).
During the meeting, attended by Dr Debora Bade, Project Officer, EDCTP Association, the project’s principal investigators (PIs) presented their progress and future plans. These include trial completion, clinical and laboratory analyses, and the dissemination of final results. The PIs—Prof. Reto Guler (UCT; consortium coordinator and lead for laboratory research), Prof. Friedrich Thienemann (University of Zurich; clinical trial lead), Dr Emmanuel Nepolo and Dr Gunar Günther (UNAM; capacity-building leads), and Dr Sandra Mukasa (UCT; data management lead)—shared their insights on the project’s achievements to date. Notably, these accomplishments include the World Health Organization’s endorsement of StatinTB in October 2023, multiple publications, and highly promising interim results.
For further information about the project and the consortium, please visit the StatinTB website.