Pharma Giant Johnson & Johnson, Lupin Offer Significant Price Cuts On Tuberculosis Drug

U.S. pharma giant Johnson & Johnson JNJ and India-based Lupin Limited announced substantial price reductions for their versions of the tuberculosis drug, bedaquiline, to tackle the spread of tuberculosis in low- and middle-income nations.

The announcement, made by the United Nations-backed Stop TB Partnership, stated that J&J would now offer bedaquiline at $130, marking a 55% reduction. Similarly, Lupin is set to supply the drug at $194, indicating a 33% drop in price, Reuters noted. Both prices pertain to a six-month treatment course.

Bedaquiline is one of just three drugs developed for the disease in over 50 years and is pivotal in treating drug-resistant TB strains.

"This historic price reduction will broaden access to this life-saving drug and keep us on the path to end TB by 2030," Gawande remarked.

Prospective buyers can access the drug at these revised rates via the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility, the largest procurer of TB medications worldwide.

Johnson & Johnson, marketing bedaquiline under the brand Sirturo, entered into an agreement with the Stop TB Partnership in July. 

In response to the recent price slash, international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) expressed their approval. 

They noted that the new price is "closer to the estimated generic price of $0.50 per day".

However, MSF's Access Campaign also added a recommendation. Christophe Perrin, a TB advocacy pharmacist with the campaign, suggested that J&J could expand drug access further by retracting its secondary patents on bedaquiline in all high-burden nations.

Price Action: JNJ shares are up 0.41% at $164.99 on the last check Wednesday.