Advocates call on Otsuka to ensure access to delamanid in South Africa

TB advocates
April 19, 2017, 1:18 p.m.
post image

TB advocates urge Otsuka to provide sufficient and sustainable access to delamanid for the treatment of drug-resistant TB in South Africa.

In an open letter sent to Otsuka on World TB Day, March 24, TB advocates emphasized the urgent need for greater availability and access to delamanid in South Africa.

In the letter, TB advocates ask the company to file for registration of delamanid in South Africa prior to 1 May 2017, avoid gaps in provision of the drug prior to registration and initiate negotiations with the Medicines Patent Pool to sign a voluntary license for the production of delamanid at an affordable price for use in low- and middle-income countries.

“Widespread access to delamanid is essential to bringing the drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) epidemic under control in South Africa. Without delamanid, people living with DR-TB in South Africa will continue to suffer.”

To read the full letter, click here.