"The disease was in decline, people thought we eradicated it," Koul explained. "Then we stopped thinking about the disease and the innovation that was needed. This also had a knock-out effect on the funding, there was no funding available to really start any pharmaceutical projects, to really discuss innovative approaches for TB."

The United Nations has set eradication of tuberculosis by 2050 as one of its Millennium Development Goals. Koul says that would require speeding up drug development - moving from an underpowered economy sedan to a sports car is the analogy he used. But with most TB victims being among the world's poor and marginalized people, he said better drugs are only part of the answer.

"We need preventive measures. I think we also need proper access - how to bring these pharmaceuticals, which are currently in the pipeline, to these poor patients."

Those preventive measures, plus removing the social stigma of tuberculosis, says Koul.