Two TB survivors challenge Janssen’s new bedaquiline patent in India

Two tuberculosis survivors have opposed a patent application filed in India by Janssen Pharmaceutica, which they say could block generic versions of bedaquiline, a drug recommended for the treatment of multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), until 2027.

Nandita Venkatesan, from India, and Phumeza Tisle, from South Africa, have questioned claims made by Janssen in its 2009 patent application for bedaquiline fumarate and a wetting agent still under examination by the Indian patents office.

In their pre-grant opposition filed on 7 February, Venkatesan and Tisle said that the claims in the patent application enhance the “known efficacy of (a) known substance” and thus do not qualify for a patent under Indian laws. …