MSF welcomes withdrawal of patents on life-saving TB drug in
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Health Justice Initiative have welcomed a decision by Johnson & Johnson to officially withdraw its secondary patents in South Africa on the lifesaving TB drug bedaquiline.
MSF has described it as a significant step in increasing access to affordable bedaquiline in the country, benefiting thousands of people who affected by Tuberculosis in South Africa.
The pharmaceutical company has dropped the price of bedaquiline to about 40% less from what they were charging South Africa.
Doctors without Borders' Candice Sehoma says this is a landmark victory.
"This means that South Africa is better positioned to buy bedaquiline at a much more affordable price, which could help them to upscale treatment, to ensure that everyone who needs bedaquiline is able to get access it.
"This will really help upscale treatment for everyone who is affected, including those in rural areas. This will ensure that there is a wide spread access because then the government will be able to purchase the volumes that are required to ensure that everyone has access.
"I do not think it will be an issue of whether you are in rural or urban area because the South African government has made commitments to ensure access to treating TB in the public health system, so I think you should be able to get access irrespective of where you are.”
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