СО «100% Life» calls Janssen Phramaceutica to extend access to BDQ generics to the territory of the EECA region

The CO «100% Life» and TB Europe Coalition initiated public call to Janssen Pharmaceutica aimed at ensuring generic access to bedaquiline in the countries of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region (EECA). The appeal was supported by 16 organizations from 11 countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

Bedaquiline (also known under the trademark «Sirturo») is a medicine used for treatment of the multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). In 2018, the World Health Organization recommended bedaquiline as the main component of MDR TB treatment considering it’s efficacy and relative safety for the patients. As a result, this medicine has been registered in many countries of the EECA region.

«At the present day, the main obstacle for the tuberculosis treatment expansion in our region is a lack of generic version of bedaquiline. Considering serious constrains in financial capacities of the countries due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, access to generic versions of this medicine is the only way to ensure that TB patients will receive necessary treatment» – explains Sergey Dmitriiev, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the CO «100 Percent Life».

Patient organizations expect productive dialogue with the Janssen Pharmaceutica resulting in a decision in the best interests of the people affected by the tuberculosis epidemic. The only alternative to extension of the bedaquiline license may be utilization of so-called TRIPS Flexibilities. It should also be noted that in many countries of the region patent oppositions aimed at cancellation or limitation of the patent monopoly have already been submitted.

The open letter is available by the following link Open letter BDQ