Insulin remains out of reach despite rising drug innovation

Millions of people face restricted access to essential insulin despite a growing focus on newer diabetes treatments, especially GLP-1 medicines, the article emphasises. It draws on several findings from the report, noting broader gaps in pharmaceutical companies' efforts to improve access to medicine, despite progress in integrating access considerations into product development and business operations.  

The article further outlines the Index's findings in other disease areas: cancer, for example, accounts for around half of pharmaceutical clinical development candidates, with access plans covering nearly two-thirds of oncology pipeline products.  

Noting that access to medicine has become more integrated into companies' operations but progress remains insufficient to meet the needs to vulnerable populations, the article paraphrases Access to Medicine Foundation CEO Jayasree K. Iyer: company priorities should now centre on building on gains and reaching more patients.