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Pharma firms’ focus on weight-loss drugs could put insulin supply at risk, experts warn
10 November 2026
Date
11 November 2026
Drug Access Gaps Persist in Low-Income Countries Despite Pharmaceutical Progress, Says New Report
In an article for Nile Post, Kenneth Kazibwe covers findings from the 2026 Access to Medicine Index, highlighting progress in pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to expand access to medicines alongside persistent gaps. He notes that access plans now cover 69% of late-stage drug development candidates, more than three times the proportion recorded in 2018, although significant disparities remain, particularly for non-communicable diseases.
Kazibwe discusses the pharmaceutical industry's focus on cancer, highlighting initiatives by AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Roche, while drawing attention to disparities in access between low-income and lower-middle-income countries. He also examines concerns around the growing focus on GLP-1 medicines despite persistent gaps in insulin access, and the challenges of measuring the impact of inclusive business models. The article also touches on the Index rankings, including Novartis taking first place and GSK second.
Marking the tenth edition of the Index and 20 years of tracking industry progress, Kazibwe features a quote from Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO of the Access to Medicine Foundation: “Twenty years of progress have put us in a stronger position than ever to tackle persistent gaps in access. The Index has shown what works, companies have more tools at their disposal and access is increasingly being considered earlier. The opportunity now is to build on that foundation and reach many more people.”
He also notes comments from Director of Research Claudia Martínez, emphasising the need to build on progress and scale up successful approaches across the industry.