Johnson & Johnson has announced that it will not enforce its patents for Sirturo (bedaquiline), a drug used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), in 134 low and middle-income countries. This decision aims to encourage current and future generic drug manufacturers to produce and sell high-quality generic versions of Sirturo without fear of patent infringement, as long as these generics meet medical standards and are used solely in the designated countries.
Bedaquiline is a groundbreaking drug for TB, being the first globally approved treatment for the disease in over four decades. It is considered less toxic and more effective than traditional TB treatments. As reported by businessline, after the Indian Patent Office rejected J&J’s secondary patent application for bedaquiline in India, several generic manufacturers, including Lupin, Natco, and Macleods, are preparing to introduce generic versions of the drug.
This is expected to further lower the cost of generic bedaquiline. However, secondary patents in low and middle-income countries could still hinder access to this crucial medicine in regions with the highest disease burden.
