U. S. Pushes back on global declaration for tb drugs, a move advocacy groups say will restrict access

U. S. Pushes back on global declaration for tb drugs, a move advocacy groups say will restrict access


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Amid growing frustration over the cost and development of tuberculosis medicines, the U.S. government is pushing changes in global policy at a United Nations meeting this week that patient


advocacy groups claim will make access and affordability more difficult for poorer countries. Specifically, the U.S. has proposed language that would negate provisions found in a World Trade


Organization agreement, which allows countries to issue compulsory licenses as a way to create lower-cost alternatives to medicines, according to the latest draft version of an agreement.


The U.S. also wants to remove language from a working draft that would “delink” R&D costs from the price and sales volumes of medicines, a notion that would involve creating new


incentives for industry to develop new medicines while providing greater access. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in THIS ARTICLE IS EXCLUSIVE TO STAT+ SUBSCRIBERS UNLOCK


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