Samantha Richardson

If I had a nickel for every time nerdfighteria has pressured a large corporation into reducing prices for critical tools to address the tuberculosis crisis, I'd have two nickels--which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Thank you. Congratulations. I know this was not easy, but it's a very important step on the long and challenging road to a world where no one dies of tuberculosis.

HUGE NEWS and what it means: This morning, @USAID, @StopTB, and @GlobalFund jointly announced that Danaher will lower the price of their standard TB test cartridge by 20% to $7.97. This isn't the 50% reduction we hoped for BUT... @DanaherCorp is also committing to ZERO profit in their distribution of standard TB tests to impoverished communities. They will sell the cartridges at cost and bring in an "internationally accredited third-party" to assess prices and adjust them accordingly so that Danaher earns no profit from selling these cartridges. That is a huge deal. It means if Danaher's costs decline with increased volume, the price of the cartridges will further decline. Just for some perspective, if (conservatively) 10 million cartridges are sold annually at the reduced price, this deal would save the poorest communities and those who serve them $200,000,000 over the next decade. This is a massive win for people living with and fighting TB around the world, and it's a credit to years of activism by @MSF_access, @TAGTeam_Tweets, @PIH, and others. There are many questions still outstanding, of course, and we hope that Danaher will take a similar course with their extensively drug resistant TB test cartridges. But I for one am very grateful to be able to celebrate today, even as the fight for universal access to treatment and diagnostics continues. theglobalfund.org/en/news/20…

"If the price per cartridge was lowered, we could increase access significantly. We’re currently limited on the number of tests we can perform simply due to budget." -@PIH, on the direct relationship between cost and clinical outcomes. Please, @DanaherCorp. Allow more people to use the amazing GeneXpert tests.

Morning, @DanaherCorp. Still no public comment from you on the thousands of requests you've received to lower the price of GeneXpert tests, thus allowing TB patients to be treated appropriately. I really hope today is the day you publicly announce lower prices. Thanks in advance!

So grateful for this conversation with my heroes. You can watch now, and reach out to @DanaherCorp and @CepheidNews to let them know that nobody should ever go through what Phumeza was forced to go through. youtube.com/watch?v=x4WtABGD…

A simple summary of an insane situation. Danaher is withholding their amazing technology from the people who most need it. Enough. It's #Timefor5 #PeopleOverProfit

This is a major work of art. It's time for $5 test cartridges, @DanaherCorp. Let this playlist guide you.

Morning, @DanaherCorp. I notice you haven't responded to calls to stop price-gouging poor countries for TB tests. Just like you didn't respond to open letters from Doctors without Borders. Perhaps you are hoping the storm will blow over. Well, you're trending. #PeopleOverProfits

Just so you know, @DanaherCorp, today is Day One of However Long It Takes you to facilitate equitable and affordable access to lifesaving TB diagnostic tools. We don't let up. #PeopleOverProfits

. @DanaherCorp makes 8 billion dollars in annual profits. Much of that profit comes from price-gouging the world's poorest countries for life-saving tuberculosis tests. Danaher has done this in the dark for 13 long years. Today, we shine the light. #PeopleOverProfits

Hey @DanaherCorp: You're already in the news. Great story about Danaher's price gouging and nerdfighteria's refusal to accept it. #PeopleOverProfits goodgoodgood.co/articles/joh…