FILE PHOTO-The Johnson & Johnson logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., May 29, 2019. The drug will be available at the lower prices through the Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility, which is the largest procurer of TB treatments. J&J, which sells bedaquiline under the brand name Sirturo, reached an agreement with the Stop TB Partnership in July to allow the coalition to supply generic versions of the drug through the Global Drug Facility. J&J has said it is false to suggest its patents prevent access to the drug. But J&J could further increase access to the drug by withdrawing its secondary patents on bedaquiline in all high-burden countries, said Christophe Perrin, TB advocacy pharmacist with MSF's Access Campaign.

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Persons: Johnson, Brendan McDermid, bedaquiline, Atul Gawande, John Green, Médecins, Christophe Perrin, Manas Mishra, Devika Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Johnson, United Nations, TB, United States Agency, International Development's Global Health Bureau, Drug Facility, Global Drug, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Bengaluru