Nandita Venkatesan and South African Phumeza Tisle, two TB survivors, filed an application challenging the patent application of Johnson and Johnson to extend their patent on bedaquiline, an important drug for drug-resistant TB in February 2019. With the drug becoming part of all recommended short-drug regimens for DR-TB, the Indian Patent Office’s rejection of the J&J application assumes considerable significance for making bedaquiline affordable, by allowing generic manufacture of the drug. Venkatesan talked to Rema Nagarajan about what drove her and Tisle to file their application and the implication of this decision on DR-TB treatment.
What made you decide to file the application?
What made you decide to file the application?