2025 Annual Report maps a year of catalysing progress towards global health equity

2025 marked a year of meaningful progress for the Access to Medicine Foundation. From advancing the methodologies underpinning two key publications – the Access to Medicine Index and the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark – to publishing two reports via our Diabetes Care Programme, the Foundation continued to provide actionable insights to guide industry efforts in expanding access to life-saving medicines worldwide. 

Throughout the year, we focused on translating research into impact, convening stakeholders and attending high-level events to inform decision-making, enable collaboration and strengthen partnerships to advance health equity. This included attendance at the 80^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the 78^th World Health Assembly (WHA), alongside convening side events covering topics such as patient reach, access to medical oxygen and pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.  

Our Annual Report – now available for download – provides a comprehensive overview of these efforts, detailing our programmatic work, stakeholder engagement and organisational developments, alongside financial statements.

A year of progress on translating the findings of the 2024 Access to Medicine Index into real-world impact

The launch of the 2024 Access to Medicine Index marked the beginning of a new phase of engagement for the Foundation. Throughout 2025, efforts centred on translating the Index's findings into action, working closely with stakeholders – including pharmaceutical companies and investors – to ensure that the opportunities identified led to tangible progress for people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This included conducting tailored briefings with governments, global health partners and international NGOs; Learning & Evaluation sessions with representatives from pharmaceutical companies analysed in the Index; and Investor Briefings on the results of the analysis. Furthermore, we disseminated Index insights at major gatherings such as UNGA, co-hosting events with partners including PGIM Fixed Income and Jennison Associates, MedAccess, Policy Lab, the NCD Alliance and the Medicines Patent Pool to advance work on patient reach, funding strategies and access to essential medicines. 

At the same time, development began on the landmark tenth edition of the Index, slated for release in late 2026. In October, the Foundation published the Methodology for the 2026 Access to Medicine Index following consultations with over 80 stakeholders, ensuring the Index remains responsive to the shifting global health landscape. To complement and build upon the Index's biennial reporting cycle, we also launched the Continuous Intelligence Unit (CIU) to deliver timely, actionable guidance in response to growing demand from industry, investors and the public sector.

Advancing accountability and action on AMR through research and engagement 

In 2025, the Foundation published the Methodology for the 2026 AMR Benchmark – a critical assessment of industry progress nearly five years after the last iteration. As AMR continues to rise on the global political agenda, so does the impetus for pharmaceutical companies to take action. The methodology – which preceded the launch of the Benchmark in March 2026 – established a robust framework to evaluate how pharmaceutical companies are addressing drug resistance, with a focus on areas where industry has a clear responsibility to act. 

The methodology's publication was accompanied by targeted engagement to strengthen understanding of AMR among investors. The Foundation convened cross-sector discussions in London, bringing together investors, policymakers and practitioners to align perspectives on financial and AMR-related risk. Additional engagement included three Investor Roundtables with Investor Action on AMR (IAAMR) signatories held in partnership with the FAIRR initiative and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, as well as a joint webinar with the World Health Organization during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.  

As a recognised voice in the AMR space, the Foundation continued to contribute to global dialogue through participation in key international forums throughout 2025 – including the 78^th WHA and, the Panmure House Dialogues on AMR, supporting greater alignment and action across the global health ecosystem. 

Bolstering access to life-saving products through the Diabetes Care, Medical Oxygen, and Generic and Biosimilar Medicines programmes

The Foundation's targeted programmes for Diabetes Care, Medical Oxygen, and Generic and Biosimilar Medicines continued to drive progress towards access to essential products in 2025, combining research, stakeholder engagement and partnership-building to address persistent gaps in LMICs.

The Diabetes Care Programme published two reports last year, addressing critical access gaps in underserved regions. The first – launched in May – examined the pharmaceutical industry's efforts to expand access to type 1 diabetes care for children and young people in LMICs, while a September publication focused on barriers to treatment in small island nations in the Pacific, where the prevalence of diabetes is among the highest globally. The programme also convened dialogue through a panel event co-hosted with the Helmsley Charitable Trust at the 78^th WHA and contributed expertise to the Multi-Stakeholder Hearing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ahead of UNGA.

The Medical Oxygen Programme continued to elevate global attention to persistent access gaps, publishing a commentary alongside the Lancet Global Health Commission on Medical Oxygen Security. As part of the Global Oxygen Alliance (GO2AL), the Foundation also hosted three Community of Practice roundtables in 2025, bringing together stakeholders from across the oxygen ecosystem to strengthen coordination and inform the development of an Industry Action Plan focused on key access gaps, industry challenges and potential solutions in selected pilot countries: Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.

Building on earlier momentum, the Generic and Biosimiliar Medicines Programme kicked off its next phase, with a growing focus on local pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply security in Africa. This priority was reflected across the Foundation's broader engagement efforts in 2025, including strategic partnerships and thought leadership, laying the groundwork for a forthcoming report this year.

Getting ready for continued impact in the year ahead

2025 was a year of significant growth and development for the Foundation. We continued to strengthen the Foundation's internal capacity, completing the multi-year renewal of our Supervisory Board and welcoming Dorota Mazurkiewicz – an experienced biopharmaceutical executive with more than 30 years of experience in the health sector – as Chief Operating Officer. By the end of 2025, our team had grown to 49 staff members, representing 22 nationalities.

We also made important strides operationally, including enhancing cybersecurity awareness and protocols across the organisation and achieving carbon neutrality. With stable funding providing a strong foundation, we are well-positioned to sustain and deepen our impact as we move into the final year of this Strategic Direction.