South Africa’s continued failure to reform its patent laws is restricting access to affordable medicines. The consequences of slow patent reform are also placing further pressure on the public healthcare system. More than 12 years have passed since the “PharmaGate” scandal became public. The scandal exposed an alleged campaign by the pharmaceutical industry to delay and weaken reforms to South…
Tag: Bedaquiline
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Affordable TB Medicines: South Africa’s Patent Battle
South Africa’s battle for affordable TB medicines echoes the country’s earlier struggle to expand access to HIV treatment. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, South Africa faced an uncontrolled AIDS epidemic. The crisis was worsened by the government’s rejection of the scientific consensus on HIV/AIDS. Under former President Thabo Mbeki, many public-sector patients were denied access to life-saving antiretroviral…
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Competition Commission and J&J reach TB drug agreement
The Competition Commission has reached a landmark agreement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, under which J&J will not enforce its patent on a crucial tuberculosis (TB) drug in 134 low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, J&J will reduce the drug’s price for South Africa’s Department of Health by approximately 40%. This decision not to enforce the…