Josua Lottering left Dhaka airport in Bangladesh coughing heavily. He suffers from cystic fibrosis, which limits his lung capacity. The humid, polluted air was tough on him, yet he was hopeful and excited. Josua, aged 18, traveled from South Africa to Bangladesh with his mother. They aimed to purchase a year’s supply of a generic medicine that significantly helps cystic fibrosis patients in North America and Europe but remains unaffordable for his family in South Africa.
The original drug, Trikafta, is produced by Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston. It’s known for allowing cystic fibrosis patients to breathe easier and extend their lifespan. However, a year’s supply costs around $346,000 in the United States. Vertex maintains exclusive rights on drugs like Trikafta, earning $49 billion since it launched in 2019. The company hasn’t registered Trikafta in many lower-income countries and often blocks generic production to maintain high prices in wealthier markets.
Now, a firm in Bangladesh has reverse-engineered Trikafta. Utilizing a loophole in global patent laws, they created a generic version called Triko, sold at a much lower price than Vertex’s Trikafta.
Last week, the Lottering family joined others who traveled to Dhaka. These families came to purchase the first batch of Triko from Beximco Pharmaceuticals. These families stand to benefit substantially from the new, more affordable option.