Lupin-led price cut slashes cost of key TB drug pretomanid by 25%
TB Drug Price Breakthrough: Lupin Cuts Pretomanid Cost by 25% for Global Access
Key Development in TB Treatment
In a significant breakthrough for global tuberculosis treatment, Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Lupin has facilitated a 25% reduction in the price of pretomanid, a crucial TB drug. This price cut marks a major step forward in making the WHO-recommended BPaLM regimen more accessible to patients worldwide.
Significant Price Reduction Impact
The Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) has announced that pretomanid will now be available at $169 per treatment course, down from $224 in October 2024. This reduction represents a crucial step in making essential TB treatment more affordable and accessible to high-burden countries.
Cost Savings and Impact
- GDF clients projected to save over $3 million annually
- Additional $5 million savings expected for National TB Programmes
- BPaLM treatment course cost reduced to $310 (47% reduction since December 2022)
- Daily treatment cost now less than $1
- Potential to treat 120,000 additional DR-TB patients
Comprehensive Price Reductions in TB Treatment
The pretomanid price reduction is part of a broader initiative that includes price cuts for other essential TB drugs: bedaquiline (B), linezolid (L), and moxifloxacin (M). Together with pretomanid (Pa), these drugs form the WHO-recommended BPaLM regimen for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
“By enabling multiple high-quality producers to supply this medicine, we’re fostering a healthy and sustainable market to deliver on our mandate that the life-saving medicines we develop will be adopted, available, and affordable to all those in need.”
– Dr. Mel Spigelman, President and CEO, TB Alliance
Market Impact and Global Reach
The impact of this price reduction extends beyond immediate cost savings. In 2024, approximately 110,000 courses of pretomanid were ordered globally, covering more than 60% of the global market for DR-TB treatment. This represents one of the fastest scale-ups for a new TB medicine in modern times.
Historical Price Trajectory
The journey of pretomanid’s pricing shows significant progress in accessibility:
- 2019: Initial approval price – $364 per treatment course
- 2024 (October): Reduced to $224
- 2025 (Current): Further reduced to $169
Expert Perspectives on the Price Reduction
Healthcare leaders have welcomed this development as a crucial step in global TB control efforts. Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership, emphasized the timing’s importance, particularly as future TB funding faces uncertainty.
“The rapid decline in DR-TB regimen prices is unprecedented given the low-volume, fragmented nature of this market. This kind of success can only be achieved with efforts by and collaboration across numerous stakeholders.”
– Dr. Brenda Waning, Chief of the Global Drug Facility
Future Implications
This price reduction represents more than just cost savings; it symbolizes a significant step toward making essential TB treatment accessible to all who need it. The collaborative effort between pharmaceutical companies, global health organizations, and advocacy groups demonstrates the potential for market-based solutions to address critical public health challenges.
Looking Ahead
The success of this initiative could serve as a model for future efforts to reduce the cost of essential medicines, particularly in high-burden countries where affordability remains a significant barrier to treatment access.
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