A research programme by the Access to Medicine Foundation
The foundation

Access to Medicine Foundation

The Foundation stimulates and guides pharmaceutical companies to do more to improve access to medicine. It is an independent non-profit organisation.
Our programmes

Access to Medicine Index

Ranks 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies based on their efforts to address access to medicine, including in strategy, governance, R&D and pricing. By publicly recognising the best performers, the Index spurs companies to compete to be the best.

Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark

The first report to compare what pharmaceutical companies are doing to bring antimicrobial resistance under control. By highlighting where good ideas are being implemented, it encourages their wider uptake.

Access to Vaccines Index

Reports what vaccine companies are doing to ensure all children can be immunised wherever they live. By uncovering what is working and where, this Index helps ensure vaccine markets also reach the poorest and most remote communities.
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Access to Vaccines Index homepage

Feature - 06 Mar 2017

Great diversity in how companies improve vaccines access for people in poorer countries

People in Togo queue for the yellow fever vaccine, which is frequently in short supply. In 2014, Sanofi invested in a new production unit to double its capacity to manufacture the vaccine. Global shortages continue.

2017 Access to Vaccines Index: 1st analysis of vaccine company action

The Index shows what vaccine companies are doing to ensure all children can be immunised, including in the poorest and most remote communities.

Key finding

Adaptations to existing vaccines account for half of vaccine R&D projects

Adaptations to existing vaccines account for half of vaccine R&D projects

Companies are adapting existing vaccines for low-resource settings. Adaptive projects account for 48% of projects in the pipeline, including many multivalent vaccines.

Key finding

When setting prices, all companies consider countries’ Gavi status – most also consider GNI per capita

When setting prices, all companies consider countries’ Gavi status – most also consider GNI per capita

Collectively, the six companies consider 18 diverse factors when setting vaccine prices.

News related to the Access to Vaccines Index

16 Jan 2019

Vaccines save lives during a child’s vulnerable years

Preventing a disease from ever occuring is always better than having the risk of getting a disease. Vaccines and proper hygiene are the two most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases.

06 Mar 2017

Access to Vaccines Index reveals first landscape of vaccine company actions to improve immunisation coverage

The 2017 Access to Vaccines Index finds a high level of diversity in how vaccine companies are improving access to vaccines for people living in poorer countries.

01 Dec 2016

Large pharmaceutical companies are developing five HIV/AIDS medicines for children

For World AIDS Day 2016, the Foundation analysed pipelines for HIV/AIDS from 20 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Five medicines, as well as diagnostics and vaccines, are in the pipeline.

12 May 2015

Access to Vaccines Index: introducing the first principles

The Access to Vaccines Index methodology was developed, with support from stakeholders and vaccine experts. Drawing on insights gathered from past research, and in response to stakeholder calls for deeper analysis, the Index focuses only on vaccines.

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"There have been massive improvements in global health in the past decades, with all major pharmaceutical companies taking action. To close the gaps that remain, a greater diversity of companies must get involved and stay engaged."

Jayasree K. Iyer

Executive Director Access to Medicine Foundation

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View our detailed overview of each company’s performance in the Index