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06 October 2022
Access to diabetes care for children and young people: Pharma companies' current actions and opportunities ahead
As rates of type 1 diabetes (T1D) rise among children and young people (CYP), so does the urgency to establish reliable access to lifesaving diabetes care products in underserved regions. By analysing company-backed diabetes care initiatives aimed exclusively at supporting CYP living with T1D, this report from the Foundation’s Diabetes Care Programme sets out practical solutions for scaling access for CYP in low- and middle-income countries.
Date
13 May 2025
Children living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can survive and go on to lead long, healthy lives with the right care. Yet, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), far too many children and young people (CYP) are still dying from this manageable disease because they lack access to timely diagnosis and treatment. With T1D incidence only expected to rise, especially in LMICs, it is crucial for pharmaceutical companies to establish sustainable access to lifesaving diabetes products in these regions.
Elli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi are leaders in the global insulin market, collectively holding over 95% of the market share in LMICs, while Biocon Limited has emerged as a key player in the biosimilar insulin market. These four companies’ strong positions within the insulin market, combined with their diverse portfolios of diabetes-related products, makes them integral in bridging gaps in access to diabetes care in LMICs.
While all four of these companies have broader diabetes care initiatives in place, this report narrows in on the CYP-focused initiatives supported by these four companies to chart the current access landscape for CYP, highlighting what progress is being made, where challenges persist and what still needs to be done to scale access for CYP living with T1D.
What’s in the report?
4 COMPANIES
3 large insulin manufacturers: Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, which collectively produce the majority of insulin products sold in LMICsÂ
1 biosimilar manufacturer: Biocon
11 INITIATIVES
Implemented or supported by the four companies, focused on delivering diabetes care products for CYP living with T1D in LMICsÂ
113 COUNTRIES
113 LMICs, matching the country scope of the 2024 Access to Medicine IndexÂ
PRODUCT TYPES
Healthcare products for T1D including monitoring products, diagnostic tools and insulin, set out in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index methodology
5 MAIN FINDINGS
Findings highlight positive developments in in expanding access to diabetes care for CYP living with T1D in LMICs, while also identifying critical areas of improvement for companies moving forward.Â
5 RECOMMENDATIONS
While companies are collaborating with partners to enhance initiatives and strengthen their sustainability, a fundamental shift is required to truly scale up access and reach CYP with unmet needs. The report sets out practical solutions companies can pursue to help ensure all CYP, regardless of where they live, can have access to their lifesaving diabetes care products.Â
About the Diabetes Care ProgrammeÂ
This report is part of the Access to Medicine Foundation’s Diabetes Care Programme, which works to build on the momentum of the Global Diabetes Compact and the World Health Organization’s push to ensure that all people living with diabetes have access to quality care and treatment. The Diabetes Care Programme published its first report in 2022 detailing the efforts of major insulin manufacturers to address access to diabetes care in LMICs. Additionally, our Amsterdam Sessions, hosted in 2022, 2023 and 2024, brought together industry leaders, public sector partners, global health organisations and experts who operate on the ground in LMICs to discuss practices and solutions for closing the gaps in access to diabetes care.