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Tuberculosis
espite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease, killing 1.5 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 2018, there were nearly 500,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which does not respond to the two most frequently used first-line TB drugs. 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.
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.
Today, our TB medicine is approved in many countries around the world, including in many high-burden countries, and registration efforts are ongoing in several others. It is also available to more than 130 low- and middle-income countries procuring the medicine through the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility.
Today, our TB medicine is approved in many countries around the world, including in many high-burden countries, and registration efforts are ongoing in several others. It is also available to more than 130 low- and middle-income countries procuring the medicine through the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility.
By the Numbers
Courses of our medicine delivered to date
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
Our Latest News
Global Public Health
August 14, 2019
May 07, 2019
Global Public Health
September 26, 2018
Learn Why Now’s the Time to Act
Pathway to Progress
New Compound Is Identified
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 collaboration 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.
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Champions to #ENDTB
To end TB, we urgently need to bring forward a new generation of treatments and multidrug regimens that are shorter, safer and more effective than many of the drugs currently used to treat the disease.
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.
Our mission has always been to ensure that patients have access to the best and most innovative TB treatment. I am confident that together with our global partners, we can achieve our ambitious goal of ending TB by 2030.
It has been an honor to be part of the team that worked to develop the first novel medicine for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the last 40 years. Our achievement highlights the importance of research to improve global public health and reinforces Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to Our Credo: patients come first.
Innovative Research Around the World
Report notes gaps in world’s response to drug-resistant TB
Led by the UN and KPMG to convert interest in Sustainable Development Goals into strategic activities.
Examining role and definition of core and companion drugs.
Study says newer drugs may have more robust efficacy data.
Study says there is an expanding body of evidence on the events caused by these drugs.
Study describes case detection and patient outcomes in a community-based program.
Study finds link with faster conversion in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Study found improved cure rates when added to multidrug-resistant treatment regimen.