Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF) achieves historic price reduction for MDR-TB drug Cycloserine
This price reduction is expected to save up to USD 22 million annually, enabling treatment for more people living with MDR-TB.
24 February - Geneva - The Global Drug Facility (GDF) of the Stop TB Partnership, has announced that the price of Cycloserine - a key medicine to treat multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) - will be cut by half (55%) in 2015 compared to the previous year. This price reduction is expected to save up to USD 22 million annually, enabling treatment for more people living with MDR-TB.
Following competitive bidding, the best priced product could now cost as little as USD 0.19 per capsule (2015 Ex Works price, INCOTERMS). The new GDF price indicates a price reduction pattern of up to 68% compared to the price of five years ago. The price of Cycloserine has been reduced from USD 0.599 per capsule (2010 Ex Works price, INCOTERMS). The new prices will be valid from April 1, 2015.
As a result of the decrease in price of this medicine starting 2015, significant annual savings of at least USD 22 million can be achieved for public health programs and for the major funder of these initiatives - The Global Fund. These savings have been estimated based on the number of units sold in 2014 at a price of USD 0.42 per capsule, compared to the new price of USD 0.19 per capsule.
The price reduction for Cycloserine - a key medicine in the "cocktail" of drugs to treat MDR-TB - will significantly reduce the total costs of MDR-TB treatment regimens. This in turn will allow treating more MDR-TB patients for the same amount of money.
Joel Keravec, manager, Global Drug Facility, said, "The mandate of GDF is to increase access to quality treatments for people in need, and this is an unprecedented milestone in making a key medicine much more affordable for the TB community. GDF also aims at creating a secure, sustainable supply with a stable base of suppliers for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Finished Pharmaceutical Products (FPPs) in the complex MDR-TB medicines market. We also promote healthy competition through our unique GDF model with enhanced partnerships with our suppliers, donors and other stakeholders."
Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary, Stop TB Partnership said, "This significant price reduction of one of the key medicines to treat MDR-TB like Cycloserine, will reduce the costs of MDR-TB treatment. Most importantly, more and more patients will benefit from stringently quality-assured medicines. I thank our suppliers for this commitment. We thank USAID for continued support and other partners for joint efforts."
Source: Stop TB Partnership
