Access to Generics

Insights

The report identifies opportunities for each company to significantly enhance its impact and contribute to improving access to medicine in LMICs, with recommendations tailored to the specific circumstances of each company, as well as its portfolio, geographical reach and size. Standout examples highlight good practice and show possibilities for progress. By extending product registration, fine-tuning access strategies, and adopting pricing strategies that factor in end-users’ ability to pay, companies can enhance their impact. Strengthening supply chains, local manufacturing, and adaptive R&D efforts, such as adapting products for children or warm environments, also offer promising pathways to ensuring access. 

How the framework was developed 

These five companies are the first to be assessed using the Analytical Framework, which was published in February 2023 as part of the Foundation’s new Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Programme. The framework assesses companies in terms of their individual capability to expand access to medicine within 108 LMICs and relating to 82 diseases and 102 products, with actions analysed across three Research Areas: Expanding access; Supply & quality; and Research & Development.  

A rigorous process was undertaken to ensure the assessment criteria were robust and relevant for companies. Proposals were reviewed by an Expert Committee, which provided strategic guidance. Insights were also drawn from a first-of-its kind workshop, which brought together experts working with and within the generic medicine industry, and focused on opportunities to expand access to medicine beyond companies' conventional roles in manufacturing and supplying affordable generic medicines.  

Download the framework

The 2023 Analytical Framework for the Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Programme

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Next steps 

By design, generic and biosimilar versions of medicines are intended to be more affordable and accessible than the originator product, and there is now an opportunity for companies to go further by leveraging their capacity and expertise to ensure their products reach the people who need them. The standout examples identified in this report span the different research areas assessed by the Framework – including examples of partnerships, solutions, and other ways companies are working on expanding access and availability in LMICs. 

Companies can now work to enhance their own efforts to improve access based on the research findings and the Opportunities outlined in their respective Company Profiles. The findings set out in the report also demonstrate where other companies may be able to learn from their peers and adopt similar positive actions, where relevant, to further improve access and make products more available and affordable to people living in LMICs.