Key findings
Companies have a collectively broad regulatory reach in LMICs, yet many essential products are not widely registered
26 September 2023
Date
29 September 2023
Op-ed: How Can the Generics Industry Up its Game on Essential Medicine Access?
In an op-ed for Pharma Boardroom, Claudia MartÃnez, Research Programme Manager for the Foundation's Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Programme, writes about opportunities generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers can tap into to ensure access to essential products they produce. MartÃnez draws on the findings from the Foundation's latest report that profiles leaders in the generic and biosimilar medicines industry.
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The op-ed highlights the role of generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers in improving access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). MartÃnez argues that while the focus is often on R&D-based pharmaceutical companies, generic medicines make up a significant portion of the market in LMICs. The expiration of patents and the entry of generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers into the market can make essential medicines more accessible to a larger number of people. Despite this, many off-patent lifesaving medicines are unaffordable or unavailable for those who need them most.
MartÃnez draws on the findings from the Foundation's latest report which profiles five market-leading generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers to highlight areas where these companies can make improvements.