Three Indian firms line up to make TB drug Bedaquiline as patent expires

As the primary patent on Tuberculosis drug Bedaquiline expires in India and other countries on Tuesday, at least three Indian companies — Lupin, Natco and Macleods — are poised to bring out their generic versions of the drug. A precise timeline on when the companies would launch bedaquiline is not defined, given the evolving global scenario on the drug, but industry sources told businessline that some of them were in the local regulatory process. Last week, J&J granted the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility licences that would enable them “to tender, procure, and supply generic versions of SIRTURO® (bedaquiline) for the majority of low- and middle-income countries, including countries where patents remain in effect.