The approval last year of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) treatment for tuberculosis (bedaquiline) - at the time the first TB drug approval in 40 years - “remains an exception to the generally gloomy outlook” for investment in TB R&D, writes Andrew Ward in this week’s Financial Times.
The approval last year of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) treatment for tuberculosis (bedaquiline) - at the time the first TB drug approval in 40 years - “remains an exception to the generally gloomy outlook” for investment in TB R&D, writes Andrew Ward in this week’s Financial Times.
AstraZeneca’s decision in January to close a laboratory in India that was conducting early-stage research into TB is more typical of Big Pharma’s current approach to TB, says Ward.
TB is “particularly unattractive as a commercial proposition” because of its heavy concentration in poorer countries.
J&J is not expected to profit from bedaquiline, but the company has been “rewarded” by U.S. regulators for developing the TB treatment with a scheme enabling it to put a potentially more lucrative new drug through an accelerated review process.
Although, Ward points out, Japan’s Otsuka has also since won provisional approval in Europe for its delamanid treatment for MDR-TB, few in Big Pharma are following the example of these companies.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/417dee98-a52a-11e3-8988-00144feab7de.html#axzz2wyWoEh2V
Fierce Females in the Life Science Space
March 29th 2024In this week’s episode, in recognition of international women’s month, Editor Miranda Schmalfuhs has compiled audio clips from interviews with female KOLs that she's been fortunate enough to speak with over this past month for content across a few of our brands.