Johnson & Johnson Folds to Pushback on Lifesaving Drug
Drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson (J&J) agreed to remove some of its control over generic multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) medication after being criticized for “trying to immorally extend their patent.”…
Drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson (J&J) agreed to remove some of its control over generic multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) medication after being criticized for “trying to immorally extend their patent.”
According to Science, J&J agreed to allow the United Nations–affiliated Stop TB Partnership to procure and create generic doses to offer the life-saving medication to low-income people in various nations.
On Thursday, STOP TB announced the partnership stating that their Global Drug Facility “plans to launch a global, competitive tender for Bedaquiline by end July 2023.”
“This is an important agreement that will support our common goal of ending TB,” they added.
The decision came just after public backlash caused thousands of Twitter users to call out J&J for working to renew patents in order to profit off of life-saving treatments.
Author John Green led the argument with a video that noted in its caption, “Evergreening the patent will cost so many lives over the next four years, which Johnson & Johnson