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How Advocates Pushed Big Pharma to Cut Tuberculosis Drug Prices | Scientific American

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The world’s best TB drug was too expensive for sufferers—until advocates and a YouTube star changed almost everything BY LUCY TU Pulmonary tuberculosis, seen on a frontal thoracic x-ray. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Millions of people are about to gain access to a lifesaving medicine for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). A few weeks ago, after years of both quiet and noisy pressure, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) opened the door to inexpensive generic versions of its patented TB drug bedaquiline in several low- and middle-income countries. The new generic medications could cost just $8 per month. The arrangement was announced in mid-July right after John Green, a young adult novelist and YouTube star—whose channel, which he hosts with his brother Hank Green, has 3.7 million subscribers—spurred an online campaign to hold J&J accountable for “evergreening” its patent, a way to maintain high prices. Within days, the J&J generic deal was made public. But while

August 14, 2023 8 min read Add Us On Google Add SciAm How Advocates Pushed Big Pharma to Cut Tuberculosis Drug Prices The world's best TB drug was too expensive for sufferers-until advocates and a YouTube star changed almost everything By Lucy Tu edited by Josh Fischman Pulmonary tuberculosis, seen on a frontal thoracic x-ray. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Millions of people are about to gain access to a lifesaving medicine for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) . A few weeks ago, after years of both quiet and noisy pressure, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) opened the

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