What is the price of Bedaquiline in India and is it cheap?

In the field of global drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment, the price of Bedaquiline has long been a concern, especially in developing countries and low- and middle-income areas. Because the drug initially entered the market as an innovative originator drug, its pricing was considered one of the major barriers to treatment accessibility in the early days. With the passage of time and the advancement of generic drug policies, the Indian market has gradually become an important reference for global patients.

Judging from overseas public information, many pharmaceutical companies in India are already involved in the production and supply of generic bedaquiline drugs. This type of generic version is consistent with the original drug in terms of drug ingredients and core mechanism of action, with the main differences focusing on price and market positioning. Take the bedaquiline generics produced by Indian pharmaceutical companies as an example. The common packaging specifications are about188 tablets per box, and the overall selling price may be around more than 2,000 yuan. The specific price will vary due to exchange rate fluctuations, procurement channels and batches. Compared with the original drug, this price advantage is very obvious, and it also attracts high attention among international humanitarian medical care and some patient groups.

In contrast, bedaquiline fumarate tablets have been officially launched in China and have been included in the medical insurance system, which is of positive significance in terms of accessibility. However, judging from the open market price, the common domestic specification is 100mg × 24 tablets, with each box selling for about 10,000 yuan, and the overall price is still in a relatively high range. Even after medical insurance reimburses them, some patients may still face certain financial pressure, which is why many patients take the initiative to learn about overseas prices and generic drug information. The lower price of generic drugs in India does not exactly mean that “cheap is more suitable.” There are differences in regulatory standards, production environments, and quality consistency for generic drugs in different countries.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/mtm/bedaquiline.html