Scrutinizing pharma’s promise of access to meds

POLITICO covers the Access to Medicine Foundation’s latest report, which reinforces the need for pharma companies to enhance their efforts to improve patient reach

The article begins by shedding light on the ongoing issue of pharma companies prioritising profits in wealthier markets at the expense of those in low-income regions. It presents pivotal findings from the report, indicating that despite advancements in tracking the distribution of medicines in LMICs, significant gaps remain in how companies monitor patient access. As a result, the number of patients reached in certain regions and for specific diseases remains unclear.

The article references from the report, using access to insulin as a key example. It points out that major manufacturers—Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi— control over 90% of the market and have pledged to enhance access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, their commitments currently cover only 1% of the diabetes prevalence across 113 LMICs.

Jayasree K. Iyer, CEO of the Foundation tells POLITICO in an interview: “The industry today is still more focused on rich markets, rich populations, and still following ... that blockbuster model for getting products out there.”