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Otsuka, Mylan, & Government: A deal that will only fuel the superbug

Plan A was local production of delamanid. Plan B could be using the donated drugs to stall the superbug spread. If both fail, India needs to act on plan C

30/08/17

Ruhi Kandhari

Over 100,000 people are infected with drug resistant tuberculosis in India. The most resistant cases need access to either one or both —bedaquiline and delamanid

The government has not tried to license these life-saving drugs to ensure production and affordability. Instead, it has accepted donation only to be used in six government funded centers across the whole country

Donated, 10,600 courses of bedaquiline and 400 courses of delamanid are not nearly enough to meet current and future needs of these drugs

The government has moved at a glacial pace in even using these drugs. Only about 600 patients have had access to bedaquiline till date. Is donation the best way to ensure drug availability?

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The Irish rock band U2 committed the proceeds from its hit number ‘One’ to AIDS research over two decades ago.

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