Namibia to pay less for TB medicine
J&J won’t enforce patent
South Africa is one of the biggest markets for Bedaquiline and the neighbouring country's health department has significant bargaining power to negotiate prices with campaigners.
Namibia is set to benefit from an agreement reached between South Africa's Competition Commission and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J), alongside its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, under which J&J will not enforce its patent for Bedaquiline, a key tuberculosis (TB) medication, in 134 low- and middle-income countries.
Namibia reported around 9 200 patients with TB last year - an increase from the 8 604 cases in 2022, which reflects a rise of 6.9%.
With an annual incidence rate of 450 cases per 100 000 population, the country is currently listed as the 11th highest out of 30 countries worldwide in terms of the TB incidence rate.
As in the rest of southern Africa, this is largely attributed to socioeconomic challenges, as well as the relatively high prevalence of HIV.
Namibia has already been using the medication in combination treatments for drug-resistant forms of TB since 2016. The country's guidelines are in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) proposals and similar to those of South Africa.
Significant bargaining power
According to the agreement, J&J will also reduce the price it charges South Africa’s health department for the drug by 40%. By not enforcing the patent, J&J will open up the market to generic suppliers who are expected to lower the price of the drug even further.
Health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said South Africa is one of the biggest markets for Bedaquiline and the neighbouring country's health department has significant bargaining power to negotiate prices with campaigners.
"We benefit downstream from the recent agreement by buying the medication at lower prices. It is either when J&J and Janssen lower their prices like now, or when newer manufacturers enter the market because of the competition due to the relaxed patent conditions," he explained.
According to him, in the case of any other new TB medication or vaccines, Namibia benefits from WHO technical advantages, evaluation by the ministry's national programme for TB and leprosy control as well as local selection by the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council.
"This is to ensure that the introduction of new products is both justified and safe for the Namibian public," Nangombe said.
Not effective enough
The only vaccine that is currently proposed internationally for TB is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which is already given to newborn babies in Namibia and has been in use for about 100 years.
"The vaccine prevents children from suffering serious complications due to TB, but is unfortunately not effective enough to prevent the disease."
TB mainly targets people with reduced immunity such as young children or people living with HIV, those with certain conditions such as malnutrition, diabetes and silicosis, as well as those who smoke or abuse drugs.
Namibia reported around 9 200 patients with TB last year - an increase from the 8 604 cases in 2022, which reflects a rise of 6.9%.
With an annual incidence rate of 450 cases per 100 000 population, the country is currently listed as the 11th highest out of 30 countries worldwide in terms of the TB incidence rate.
As in the rest of southern Africa, this is largely attributed to socioeconomic challenges, as well as the relatively high prevalence of HIV.
Namibia has already been using the medication in combination treatments for drug-resistant forms of TB since 2016. The country's guidelines are in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) proposals and similar to those of South Africa.
Significant bargaining power
According to the agreement, J&J will also reduce the price it charges South Africa’s health department for the drug by 40%. By not enforcing the patent, J&J will open up the market to generic suppliers who are expected to lower the price of the drug even further.
Health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe said South Africa is one of the biggest markets for Bedaquiline and the neighbouring country's health department has significant bargaining power to negotiate prices with campaigners.
"We benefit downstream from the recent agreement by buying the medication at lower prices. It is either when J&J and Janssen lower their prices like now, or when newer manufacturers enter the market because of the competition due to the relaxed patent conditions," he explained.
According to him, in the case of any other new TB medication or vaccines, Namibia benefits from WHO technical advantages, evaluation by the ministry's national programme for TB and leprosy control as well as local selection by the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council.
"This is to ensure that the introduction of new products is both justified and safe for the Namibian public," Nangombe said.
Not effective enough
The only vaccine that is currently proposed internationally for TB is Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which is already given to newborn babies in Namibia and has been in use for about 100 years.
"The vaccine prevents children from suffering serious complications due to TB, but is unfortunately not effective enough to prevent the disease."
TB mainly targets people with reduced immunity such as young children or people living with HIV, those with certain conditions such as malnutrition, diabetes and silicosis, as well as those who smoke or abuse drugs.
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