espite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing 1.4 million people every year—more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Underserved communities bear the largest burden, with more than 95% of TB-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries, but this airborne disease knows no borders.
Growing drug resistance is compounding this public health challenge. In 2019, there were nearly 500,000 new cases of drug-resistant (DR-TB), which does not respond to the most frequently used first-line TB medicines. Less than 210,000 of these patients were diagnosed, meaning there are approximately 300,000 people with DR-TB who do not know they are infected. Drug-resistant TB now accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths from antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
For nearly 20 years, both in our laboratories and on the ground in countries impacted by TB and MDR-TB, Johnson & Johnson has been supporting global efforts to end TB and combat AMR.
XRay King Dinuzulu Hospital
Our Mission: Enabling a World Without TB
Our Mission: Enabling a World Without TB
In 2012, our medicine for pulmonary MDR-TB was granted accelerated approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) for use as part of a combination therapy in adults when an effective treatment regimen cannot otherwise be provided. This was the first targeted TB drug with a novel mechanism of action to be approved in more than 40 years.
Courses of our medicine provided for free through a four-year donation program
Countries accessing our medicine, including the 30 highest-burden countries
Countries in which our medicine has been approved
Our 10-Year Initiative
In September 2018, Johnson & Johnson reaffirmed its continued commitment to the fight against TB by announcing a new 10-year initiative with three pillars:
Expanding access to treatment by offering a not-for-profit price to 130+ low- and middle-income countries, as well as nongovernmental organizations, procuring our medicine through the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility
Improving case finding and strengthening health systems to reach the thousands of people with undiagnosed TB and MDR-TB and connect them to care, including by improving diagnostic capacity, training health workers and raising community awareness
Accelerating TB research and development (R&D) to discover innovative next-generation treatments that will be needed to reach the global goal of ending TB
A 20-something photographer. A famous TV personality. They share one thing in common that you'd never expect—both have triumphed over tuberculosis. For World TB Day, we share their inspiring stories.
Program aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma of TB among young people in India, as part of Johnson & Johnson’s 10-year initiative to combat world’s leading infectious disease killer
At Johnson & Johnson, our top priority is developing and delivering medicines to all patients in need. We stand committed to working closely with countries and other partners to rapidly scale up access to bedaquiline and reach all eligible patients.
— Paul Stoffels, M.D., Vice Chair of the Executive Committee and Chief Scientific Officer
TB is an often-overlooked area in global health, and our 10-Year Initiative aims to change that. We’re working and partnering in new and unprecedented ways to modernize treatment, improve patient-finding and connect more patients with care – all with the goal of ending TB once and for all.
— Martin Fitchet, Global Head, Global Public Health, Johnson & Johnson
The greatest opportunity to accelerate the fight against TB is right now in this new decade.
— Ana-Maria Ionescu, Global Marketing Leader, Tuberculosis, Global Public Health
It's not until that very last patient is cured that I'll feel rested, until then I'll continue to do what I do.
— Chrispin Kambili, Global Medical Affairs Leader, Tuberculosis, Global Public Health
What inspires me to fight TB is our mothers, our fathers, our patients, our nurses, our healthcare providers.
— Erwin Benedicto, Head of Medical Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Philippines
We can’t beat TB alone. That’s why we’re honored to join forces with our partners in the quest to create the first pan-TB treatment. Together, we can transform TB treatment and end this disease once and for all.
— Ruxandra Draghia-akli, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Global Public Health R&D
Johnson & Johnson is advancing the fight against TB by doing much beyond the pill. We are engaging with partners at the national and international levels to ensure that we work with them to build the capacity and the systems needed to ensure that treatment is accessible.
— Vandita Gupta, Franchise Head, Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen India
I'm committed to tackling TB because TB is a neglected disease. A lot of other diseases have gotten a lot of public focus...I'm really committed to making it history. And we can. It's a curable disease.
When we end TB, patients and families can go back to their normal lives. Then, we can apply and scale up learnings from TB elimination efforts to help more patients in other areas.
— Salinee Vongpanich, Regional Public Health Access Lead, Johnson & Johnson Southeast Asia
A new report published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and with support from Johnson & Johnson, emphasizes the urgent need for focused global action to address the growing threat of DR-TB. Through innovative partnerships and collaborations, Johnson & Johnson is working to create world without DR-TB and end TB.
Drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is on the rise with 558,000 new cases a year. It is the only airborne drug-resistant epidemic and responsible for nearly 1/3 of all deaths from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally.
Beyond its devastating impact on human lives, DR-TB takes a tremendous economic toll. The EIU analysis shows that, based on current incidence and prevalence rates, DR-TB deaths in a single year are estimated to cost the global economy at least US $17.8 billion.
Delay is no longer an option — it’s time to step up the fight to end drug-resistant TB. A new report published by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), and with support from Johnson & Johnson, emphasizes the urgent need for focused global action to address the growing threat of DR-TB.
In the lead-up to the first-ever United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis in September 2018, the Stop TB Partnership, Johnson & Johnson, UN Foundation, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the World Economic Forum co-hosted the first of its kind TB Innovation Summit.
Janssen investigates possible compound for the treatment of MDR-TB.
Janssen’s MDR-TB Medicine Shows Promise
Janssen team publishes study in Science showing new drug killed TB bacteria—including drug-resistant bacteria—in the test tube and in a mouse model at faster rate than existing TB drugs.
Medicine Receives Accelerated FDA Approval
Our MDR-TB medicine is granted accelerated approval by the U.S. FDA as the first targeted drug with a novel mechanism of action against TB in more than 40 years.
Agreement Signed for Russia and CIS
Our company enters into a commercial licensing agreement with JSC Pharmstandard for the registration, commercialization and manufacturing of MDR-TB medicine for Russia and several other countries in the region.
Europe Grants Conditional Approval
Following a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency, the European Commission grants conditional approval of our medicine for MDR-TB.
Johnson & Johnson Enters Collaboration With Global Drug Facility
This partnership with a procurement agent for the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) helps to facilitate access to the company’s MDR-TB medicine.
Collaboration Announced to Further Evaluate Medicine
Janssen announces collaboration with the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union) to include our MDR-TB medicine in two arms of the STREAM study, an ongoing trial to evaluate MDR-TB treatment regimens.
Johnson & Johnson Launches Four-Year Donation Program
Our company commits to provide up to 30,000 courses of our medicine, free of charge, in up to 110 eligible countries through a donation program with USAID and Pharmstandard (quantities later increased, see March 2019).
MDR-TB Medicine Added to WHO Essential Medicines List
The World Health Organization adds our MDR-TB medicine to its Essential Medicines List.
Janssen Wins Prestigious International Award
Our MDR-TB medicine receives an International Prix Galien Award, recognizing excellence in scientific innovation to improve human health.
Johnson & Johnson Announces Extension of Donation Program
In response to high demand, Johnson & Johnson commits to provide an additional 30,000 courses of treatment through its donation program with USAID and JSC Pharmstandard; ultimately donated 105,000 courses (see March 2019).
South African Government Leads the Way
South Africa becomes the first country to recommend a bedaquiline-containing, injection-free regimen for all eligible MDR-TB patients.
Johnson & Johnson Offers Not-for-Profit Price to Eligible Countries
Johnson & Johnson announced that our MDR-TB medicine would be made available at a not-for-profit price to more than 130 countries procuring our medicine through the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility.
New Study Suggests Cost-Effectiveness of Our MDR-TB Medicine
A new cost-effectiveness study suggests both long- and short-course regimens containing our MDR-TB drug, without injectables, are cost-effective and provide significant health system savings.
Johnson & Johnson Announces 10-Year TB Initiative
Johnson & Johnson announces new 10-year TB initiative aimed at improving case finding, expanding treatment access and advancing R&D.
WHO Finalizes New MDR-TB Treatment Guidelines
The World Health Organization announces revised treatment guidelines for MDR-TB that categorize our medicine as a “Group A” medicine to be prioritized when constructing a conventional (long-course) regimen for MDR-TB.
Conclusion of Successful Donation Program
Johnson & Johnson ultimately committed 105,000 courses of our MDR-TB medicine, free of charge, to 80 countries through four-year donation program with USAID and JSC Pharmstandard.
Johnson & Johnson-Supported EIU Report Launches
Report estimates DR-TB deaths in a single year cost the global economy at least US$17.8 billion and calls for action to end the epidemic.
Johnson & Johnson Launches New R&D Collaboration
Johnson & Johnson partners with the EU’s Innovative Medicines Initiative and eight European academic and research institutions to launch a new collaborative aimed at accelerating the discovery of new TB medicines.
J&J commits $500 million to help end HIV and TB
J&J announces four-year commitment, focused on developing new innovations and accelerating the delivery of existing and new tools to combat both epidemics.
FDA Approves Our MDR-TB Medicine for Adolescents
The U.S. FDA grants approval for the medicine as part of combination therapy for eligible patients over the age of 12 and younger than 18 with pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
WHO Recommends All-Oral DR-TB Treatment Regimens
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of all-oral regimens containing our medicine for all drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.
New Global Collaboration to Develop Transformative Treatments
Johnson & Jonson joins a global consortium of philanthropic, non-profit and private sector organizations to accelerate the development of novel “pan-TB” treatment regimens.
FDA Approves Pediatric Formulation of Our MDR-TB Medicine
Johnson & Johnson receives the first regulatory approval for the pediatric formulation of our medicine.
J&J and Partners Announce Efforts to Scale-Up Access
J&J and Stop TB Partnership announce joint efforts to accelerate scale-up of WHO-recommended, all-oral treatment regimens and drive progress toward the global goal of ending TB.
