Global Drug Facility update on access to bedaquiline
Global Drug Facility announces an agreement with Johnson & Johnson for access to affordable generic versions of bedaquiline; Treatment Action Group, Médecins Sans Frontières and Partners in Health release statements in response to the agreement.
13 July 2023 -- Following lengthy negotiations, Johnson & Johnson has granted Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility licenses that enable Global Drug Facility (GDF) to tender, procure, and supply generic versions of SIRTURO® (bedaquiline) for the majority of low- and middle-income countries, including countries where patents remain in effect.
GDF has shared with the TB community important updates on plans to launch a global, competitive tender for bedaquiline by the end of July 2023. All bedaquiline suppliers that meet GDF's quality criteria are eligible to participate in the GDF bedaquiline tender and have been briefed on the tender goals, processes, and timelines.
This is an important agreement that will support our common goal of ending TB.
GDF has also published the frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the same. Click here to download the file.
Source: Stop TB Partnership
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Treatment Action Group, Médecins Sans Frontières and Partners in Health released statements in response to the agreement:
- Treatment Action Group encouraged by Johnson & Johnson deal to reduce bedaquiline prices, but company’s action falls short of community demands
- Médecins Sans Frontières: TB medicine deal offers short-term solution, but Johnson & Johnson needs to do more for all affected countries
- Partners in Health statement on Johnson & Johnson and Stop TB deal
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You can add to the social media pressure mounted by John Green @sportswithjohn @johngreen on Twitter by posting with the hashtag #PatientsNotPatents and tagging @JNJNews or @JNJGlobalHealth, and demanding that Johnson & Johnson release the secondary patents and unlock access to generic bedaquiline for all!
