Pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceutica have come under investigation by the South African Competition Commission for alleged exclusionary practices and excessive pricing in the provision of a tuberculosis treatment called Bedaquiline.
The companies’ conduct may be in contravention of Section 8 of the Competition Act.
The commission says it is investigating the matter based on information that gives rise to reasonable suspicion that the respondents may have engaged in anticompetitive conduct.
In response to the commission's actions, Johnson & Johnson says it has a longstanding commitment to South Africa’s fight against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
"Today, all patients in South Africa who require bedaquiline, our medicine for MDR-TB, have access to it thanks to our collaboration with the government of South Africa and other stakeholders, which has contributed to a steady decline in TB incidence.
"The company will cooperate fully with the commission in its inquiry, and cannot comment further while this is ongoing. We remain committed to our continued collaboration, ensuring that together, we can achieve our shared goal of ending TB," it adds.