Do companies track how many people they reach with their access strategies?

• No patient data reported for many medicines including 23 off-patent reserve antibiotics in scope

• Success stories of patient reach and reporting show the way forward

The Benchmark looked for evidence of patient reach resulting from the access
strategies employed by the companies. Despite the strategies used, the burden of disease is still significant and not enough patients are reached. 

Many companies do not report the numbers, although companies are more likely to report their patient reach data for supranationally-procured medicines and vaccines, and for off-patent/generic medicines with high volumes of sales. 

Some medicines are still overlooked, such as the 23 off-patent reserve antibiotics in scope, for which no patient reach data was reported. However, some notable examples of patient reach can be provided for both on- and off-patent products.

Examples of transparency on patient reach

TB medicines distributed through the GDF-Stop TB Partnership

In 2020, at least 125,000 treatment courses of Johnson & Johnson’s bedaquiline (Sirturo) were ordered through the GDF-Stop TB Partnership, and at least 25,000 treatment courses of Otsuka’s delamanid (Deltyba) were distributed to more than 80 countries between 2016 and 2020. The GDF also supplied 400 treatment courses of pretomanid (Dovprela) to 10 countries in 2020.

GSK: off-patent/generic medicines and on-patent vaccines

In 2020,GSK donated more than 200,000 units of its branded amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin) towards humanitarian relief efforts run by charitable organizations, including Save the Children. In 2020, GSK supplied 56 million doses of its pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Synflorix) to Gavi-eligible countries. GSK supplied 115,000 doses of Synflorix to refugee programmes run by MSF in Greece, Syria and South Sudan.

Pfizer: on-patent antibiotics and antifungals

In 2020, Pfizer reached 18,500 Brazilian and 2,500 Colombian patients with its on-patent antibiotics ceftazidime/avibactam (Zavicefta) and ceftaroline (Zinforo). In India, Pfizer reached 9,300 patients with Zavicefta™ and the antifungal isavuconazole (Cresemba).

Cipla and Sun Pharma: off-patent/generic medicines

In 2020, Cipla distributed colistin in 500 Indian hospitals, treating 20,000 patients in India per month. In South Africa, it provided access to azithromycin to 280,000 patients. In 2020 and 2021, Cipla participated in a tender to distribute more than one million tablets of Q-TIB, a fixed dose combination used in tuberculosis prevention for people living with HIV, in seven LMICs including Haiti, Rwanda and Uganda. In 2020, Sun Pharma estimates that it provided access to its amoxicillin/clavulanic acid to 890,000 patients in 19 LMICs, including Cameroon, Myanmar, and Peru.