J&J working with Indian govt on tuberculosis treatment

Global drug major Johnson and Johnson is working with the Indian Government in the area of treatment for tuberculosis, said Paul Stoffels, Worldwide Chairman Pharmaceuticals and Chief Scientific Officer of Johnson and Johnson here today.

It is a molecule we are working with the Government of India. It is Bedaquiline (drug). It is the first new molecule in last forty years (for TB). It is a very impactable drug for multi-drug therapy...we are working with the government to bring it to the people," Stoffels told reporters on the sidelines of BioAsia-2017 being held here.

Last year, Telangana Government had said that it has entered into an MoU with Johnson & Johnson to work together for making the state tuberculosis free.

Replying to a query, he said J and J is working on a vaccine for HIV and the result is expected in the next three years.

"HIV vaccine. The study is starting this year and the outcome of that will be known in 2020," he said.

He also felt that Indian pharma and biotech companies are capable enough to produce new molecules on their own.

Earlier in a keynote address on his company's innovation landscape, Stoffels said there were 140 molecules in different stages of development.

He also said the company has incubators for startups in USA and Canada and has place to expand globally.