Tuberculosis Drug Will Be More Accessible to All

As the global patent of its tuberculosis drug comes to an end, an American pharmaceutical giant intends to ensure that generic versions will supply low- and middle-income countries, thus improving global access to the drug and prioritizing the health needs of people most affected by this deadly disease.

“From our perspective, the end point is the same,” states Brenda Waning, chief of Global Drug Facility (GDF). “We can supply to all the countries [under the deal] regardless of patents” as secondary ones remain active until 2027 in a number of countries.

Through its GDF, the Stop TB Partnership coalition will be able to supply generic versions of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) bedaquiline to 44 low- and middle-income countries, bringing the price of the most expensive component of the multi-drug regimen for people with drug-resistant tuberculosis from $1.50 to 0.50$ a day. Pharmaceutical companies such as J&J use the money made through patents to sponsor the development of other drugs, something generic manufacturers usually don’t do.