Macleods becomes the second pharmaceutical manufacturer to bring pretomanid supply to the market and first, since the World Health Organization issued updated DR-TB treatment guidelines
Mumbai-based pharmaceuticals company Macleods has become the second manufacturer to launch pretomanid, a new medicine and essential component of shortened, World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Under license from TB Alliance, Macleods will be able to supply to 135 low- and middle-income countries. Macleods has recently commenced supplying pretomanid to the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility for distribution of the medicine to those countries.
Pretomanid was developed by the nonprofit TB Alliance, as part of the all-oral, six-month BPaL (bedaquiline + pretomanid + linezolid) regimen used with or without moxifloxacin (BPaL/M). BPaL drastically reduces the time it takes to cure drug-resistant TB, with fewer side effects. Previously, drug-resistant TB treatment lasted 9 to 18 months or longer and often required people to take up to 14,000 pills throughout treatment. BPaL is the first set treatment regimen recommended to treat drug-resistant TB. Now, more than 70 countries are procuring pretomanid and are in various stages of adopting and implementing the BPaL regimens.
“Ensuring a steady supply of high-quality products is critical for countries to scale up new TB treatments and to ensure people in need receive them. Macleods’ pretomanid product will create an additional source of pretomanid for countries, thereby making the BPaL regimen even more accessible,” said Sandeep Juneja, Senior Vice President of Market Access, TB Alliance. “We are glad to have Macleods, one of the longest-standing players in the TB medicines business, as a partner in our goal to help improve access to treatments for people with drug-resistant TB globally. Macleods is one of five commercial partners TB Alliance has collaborated with to ensure the availability and affordability of pretomanid worldwide.”
“Producing medicines like pretomanid and making them available to patients across the globe is a central part of our mission,” said Vijay Agarwal, CEO, Macleods. “Curing drug-resistant TB faster and with fewer pills will help people overcome one of the most difficult-to-treat infections on our planet. We are proud of our relationship with TB Alliance and feel privileged to be bringing pretomanid, a life-saving new medication, to the market.”
