The agency will work with Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, and Cepheid, a maker of molecular systems and tests. Janssen announced a $15-20m pledge as part of the partnership.

Ariel Pablos-Méndez, USAID assistant administrator for global health, said if successfully implemented the plan represents an “incredible opportunity to make a significant impact on the emergence and spread of MDR-TB”.

USAID’s work with Cepheid will work to increase access to rapid and accurate diagnostic tools in order to speed up diagnoses of MDR-TB, which the agency estimates will affect more than 480,000 people all over the world in 2016. Fewer than 20% of these will receive the medication they need.

Adrian Thomas, Janssen vice president of global marketing and public health, said the $15-20m worth of funding and in-kind contributions will improve access to treatment, address stigma and fund innovation in the diagnosis and delivery of care.

The partnerships build on existing, successful collaborations which include a three-year, $30m donation from Janssen of Bedaquiline, a drug used in the treatment of TB.

The plans are in line with a White House action plan to combat MDR-TB.