Cost of tuberculosis treatment halved in deal to permit generic versions

Johnson & Johnson's year-long deal on life-saving drug bedaquiline is seen as critical move in campaign against disease

The cost of a crucial tuberculosis treatment has been halved after an agreement was made to allow the sale of generic versions of the drug.

Johnson & Johnson's price for bedaquiline, considered the backbone of treatment for drug-resistant TB will drop from $289 (227) to $130 for a six-month course until December 2024.