After protracted criticism over its pricing for a game-changing tuberculosis medicine, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is lowering the price as part of a larger incentive scheme designed to increase usage in dozens of low and middle-income countries, but the effort was met with a mixed reaction.
The health care giant is dropping the price for Sirturo by 15%, from $400 to $340 for a six-month treatment course, for more than 130 countries that are eligible to purchase the tablet through the STOP TB Partnership, a collective created by the United Nations that administers a global fund for distributing TB drugs. However, the cost could drop still more depending upon quantities that are purchased.
For instance, if the STOP TB Partnership receives confirmed orders for at least 125,000 people with drug-resistant tuberculosis, Johnson & Johnson will provide an additional 20% discount. By doing so, the price would drop to $272 for a 6-month treatment course. In the first year, J&J estimated this could lead to savings of up to $16 million, which is equivalent to treating 30,000 people.
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