Key Takeaways
- Bedaquiline’s price reduced to $63 per treatment, making the total BPaLM course cost under $300.
- Annual savings of over $4.5 million for countries treating drug-resistant tuberculosis.
- This marks the third price reduction in six months, with BPaLM treatment now costing 52% less since its recommendation.
Price Reduction for Tuberculosis Treatments
The pharmaceutical company Lupin has significantly reduced the price of bedaquiline to $63 per treatment course. This adjustment brings the total cost of the complete BPaLM (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Linezolid) treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis below $300 for the first time, specifically to $284 per course. As a result, countries struggling with high rates of tuberculosis can potentially save over $4.5 million annually. This savings translates to approximately 71,000 additional bedaquiline courses or 16,000 complete BPaLM treatments each year.
These developments are especially beneficial for countries that utilize the Global Drug Facility (GDF) price as a benchmark in their procurement negotiations. The price reduction comes as part of a series of cuts for drug-resistant tuberculosis medicines, marking the third decrease within the past six months. Earlier in the year, bedaquiline’s price dropped by 54% in February, while in April, pretomanid saw a reduction of 25%.
Overall, this initiative reflects a broader effort to make treatment more accessible for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Currently, six WHO-recommended treatments are available for under $300, with the lowest-priced option, endTB 9BLMZ, costing $173 per course. Since the inception of the BPaLM treatment recommendation in December 2022, the price via GDF has decreased by 52%, from $588 to $284 for a six-month regimen.
Despite the global market for BPaLM treatment being relatively small, with only around 123,000 individuals eligible, these price reductions represent a crucial step toward improving access to essential medications for those facing drug-resistant tuberculosis.
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