Some progress, but Big Pharma not moving fast enough to deliver access

The article first gives an overview of the 2024 Index, highlighting its importance in assessing how pharma companies are addressing access to medicine, prioritising research for neglected diseases, and improving the delivery of essential treatments to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

It then raises the concern that, despite companies ramping up their efforts, the full potential for improving access to medicine has yet to be realised. On a positive note, more companies are now focusing on LMICs through 'inclusive business models' (IBMs), which aim to address populations that have traditionally been. However, the article reflects the findings of the 2024 Index, which show that the results of these models are mixed, and there is a lack of transparent reporting on how many patients are actually being reached.

The article also highlights the decline in R&D for diseases that disproportionately affect LMICs. It points to the 2024 Index’s recommendation for the industry to issue voluntary licenses, along with technology transfers, to support local, affordable production. However, during the monitoring period, only two voluntary licenses were issued. Additionally, it notes a shortage of clinical trials in LMICs, with only 43% of the 685 trials analysed being conducted in these regions.

The article then quotes Jaysaree Iyer, CEO of the Access to Medicine Foundation: “If a company is serious about access, then you do need to make sure that diverse populations around the world are part of your clinical studies, and you’re designing a product that is going to be useful for different populations around the world.”