Global access to the tuberculosis (TB) medicine pretomanid received a significant boost with a 25% price reduction, thanks to Lupin, a Mumbai-based drugmaker. The price cut, announced by the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF), aims to make the life-saving drug more affordable and accessible to patients worldwide.
Significant Price Reduction: From $224 to $169
Lupin’s production of pretomanid has brought the cost of the drug down to $169 per treatment course, a significant drop from the previous price of $224 set in October 2024. The GDF estimates that this reduction will save its clients over $3 million annually, enabling greater access in high-burden TB countries.
Supporting High-Burden TB Countries
The price reduction not only benefits GDF clients but also strengthens the ability of high-burden TB countries to negotiate sustainable reference prices. GDF projects that these lower prices will save National TB Programs an additional $5 million annually, supporting broader and more cost-effective TB treatment strategies.
Price Reductions Across Key DR-TB Medicines
The reduction follows previous price cuts by GDF for other key drugs—bedaquiline (B), linezolid (L), and moxifloxacin (M). Together with pretomanid (Pa), these drugs form the BPaLM regimen, which the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends for treating drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). The combined price cuts have resulted in a 47% drop in the cost of the six-month BPaLM treatment course. It is now priced at $310, down from $588 in December 2022.
TB Alliance’s Role in Expanding Access
The TB Alliance, the nonprofit organization behind the development of pretomanid, has worked with multiple manufacturers to improve access to the drug. As a result of this collaboration, pretomanid is now available for less than $1 per day. This meets a key pricing benchmark identified by the global TB advocacy community.
Achieving Affordable Access for All
Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and CEO of TB Alliance, emphasized the importance of enabling multiple high-quality producers. This will help supply pretomanid and foster a sustainable market for the drug. He stated, “Our mandate is clear—life-saving medicines must be available and affordable to all those in need.”
Saving Millions and Expanding Treatment Reach
The current GDF price reduction, led by Lupin, is expected to save an estimated $37 million annually. This will allow for the treatment of an additional 1,20,000 people with DR-TB. The new price for the six-month treatment course is $310. This reduces the cost to less than $2 per day, significantly improving access to treatment.
Rapid Scale-Up of Pretomanid Use
In 2024 alone, global orders for approximately 1,10,000 courses of pretomanid covered over 60% of the global DR-TB market. This rapid scale-up represents one of the fastest expansions of a new TB medicine in modern times. It highlights the impact of affordable pricing.
A Critical Milestone in Global TB Efforts
Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, hailed the price reduction as a “remarkable feat.” This is particularly notable given the uncertainty surrounding TB funding. She urged awareness of the reduced cost of BPaLM, noting that some countries still pay much higher prices for these treatment regimens.
Unprecedented Price Decline in DR-TB Treatment
The rapid decline in DR-TB regimen prices is unprecedented, given the market’s low-volume and fragmented nature. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, Dr. Brenda Waning, Chief of the Global Drug Facility, acknowledged the success. She credited it to collaboration among donors, governments, regulators, and dedicated medicine suppliers.
