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.
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.
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