The Facts
- Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has agreed to make a less expensive, generic version of its patented tuberculosis (TB) drug, bedaquiline, available to the majority of low and middle-income countries.
- The agreement, signed on Thursday, allows the Switzerland-based non-profit Stop TB to tender, procure, and supply generic bedaquiline in 44 new countries — including nations where J&J's patent remains in effect.
- The global patent of bedaquiline ended on Tuesday, while secondary patents are active until 2027.
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The Spin
Narrative A
By expanding access to bedaquiline, J&J has allowed the life-saving cure to become available to the millions who can't afford it. The company not only doubled the reach of its tuberculosis treatment but also set a model for other pharmaceutical companies. The generic versions of bedaquiline would be available for between $48 and $102, which reflects J&J's commitment to prioritizing the health needs of people most affected by a deadly disease over profits accrued through patents.
Narrative B
Even though TB is curable, J&J charges $272 for the six-month course of bedaquiline — effectively keeping the drug out of the hands of millions of people. Though the deal would allow patients in developing countries to access the life-saving drug, the company retains the global authority over bedaquiline and can still manipulate its price. The governments hit hardest by the epidemic should override J&J's patents and buy the pill from generic manufacturers instead.
Metaculus Prediction
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