In a significant development, the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) has declared substantial price reductions of up to 55% for bedaquiline, a crucial drug used in treating drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
The revised bedaquiline prices, obtained through an open and competitive tender, will be in effect until December 2024, benefiting the majority of low- and middle-income countries.
The cost for a 6-month treatment course of bedaquiline from Johnson & Johnson is now $130, while Lupin offers the same course at $194. These prices reflect a remarkable 55% reduction for Johnson & Johnson and a 33% reduction for Lupin compared to the previous cost of $289 for a 6-month treatment course.
It’s estimated that around 450,000 individuals are affected by drug-resistant TB. These lowered bedaquiline prices are expected to result in savings exceeding $8 million during the 16-month contract period. This amount can be used to acquire over 51,000 additional bedaquiline treatments, potentially providing critical treatment to thousands of DR-TB patients.
Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, emphasized the significance of this price reduction in the context of the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on TB. She stated, “This price reduction is a momentous breakthrough in the fight to end TB and it is especially timely in the leadup to the UN High-Level Meeting on TB to be held in New York in September.”
According to Dr. Atul Gawande, Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Global Health Bureau, “No one should have to suffer from drug-resistant tuberculosis simply because they cannot afford treatment. This historic price reduction will broaden access to this life-saving drug and keep us on the path to end TB by 2030.”
The reduction in bedaquiline prices holds the promise of enhanced accessibility to this essential drug, resulting in better treatment outcomes for those affected by DR-TB.
Dr. Brenda Waning, GDF Chief, highlighted the collaborative effort behind this achievement, involving organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development, Stop TB, the World Health Organization, The Global Fund, pharmaceutical manufacturers, national TB programs, and others. She stated, “Not only have we reached the US$500 target price for key DR-TB regimens established by partners such as Médecins Sans Frontières, but the new BPaL price squeaked in just below $400; and GDF’s reduced bedaquiline prices set a new bar for other suppliers to further decrease medicine prices and bring BPaLM regimen prices well under US$400 in the very near future.”
This price reduction is a major step forward in the global effort to combat TB, a disease that still claims the lives of 1.5 million people annually, more than any other infectious disease. It is particularly timely as TB programs are rebounding from the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The availability of bedaquiline at significantly reduced prices will aid in achieving treatment goals and addressing the pressing issue of DR-TB. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing global health initiatives.
Countries can access the new bedaquiline prices in the GDF Medicines Catalog and place new orders for bedaquiline and other medicines on the Stop TB website.