Generic medicine manufacturers

Accelerating access across the African continent 

Generic and biosimilar medicines, produced at high volumes and typically sold at lower prices than original brands, have the potential to revolutionise the healthcare industry. With nearly 80% of the global supply of pharmaceutical products manufactured by generic and biosimilar producers, these companies have a vital role to play in expanding access around the world. However, the reality is that global production of generics is uneven – with significant gaps in Africa. Combined with relatively limited licensing activity on the continent, the availability of both essential off-patent products as well as newer lifesaving medicines is limited.

This dynamic poses severe public health risks, burdens already strained health systems and can leave people with catastrophic healthcare costs. 

Moving key players  

In 2023, the Foundation published a milestone report, marking the first time we’ve spotlighted the access efforts of generic and biosimilar medicine manufacturers. Building on this, the next phase of our Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Programme will identify the most effective approaches that the industry can take to sustainably improve the availability and supply of quality-assured generic medicines across Africa. Given the severity of medicine availability issues on the continent – and the opportunities for generic and biosimilar producers to drive change – we will be assessing key companies that can help shift the current landscape in Africa. 

Combining our research with stakeholder consultations, we have selected a key group of generic and biosimilar manufacturers based on their presence in the African market, product portfolio, ability to manufacture quality-assured products, as well as their size or capacity to supply widely. Our aim is to mobilise this selection of key players – which includes both large multinational players and emerging regional African-based manufacturers – to coordinate efforts that help fill critical gaps and reach underserved populations. 

In 2026, the Foundation will publish a new research report analysing how these companies are approaching supply and availability in African countries, focusing on effective collaborations that can be replicated and further developed to drive progress. The analysis will showcase effective strategies and good practices, as well as identify critical access gaps and provide recommendations for future action. 

Catalysing industry-wide change for global access

As part of the Programme, we also leverage the Foundation’s convening power to bring the right people together to share insights and identify solutions. In May alongside the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the Access to Medicine Foundation and Vizuri Health Dynamics convened a high-level roundtable session, “Enabling the Manufacturing of Innovative and Essential Medicines in Africa". This event brought together over 30 regulators, manufacturers and senior health sector executives for a strategic dialogue focused on identifying and advancing actionable solutions to support the sustainable manufacturing of both innovative and generic medicines across the African continent.   

In addition, we mobilise generic medicine manufacturers to address specific challenges through our other cross-sector research programmes and streams. For example, since 2017, we have been tracking and assessing some of the world's largest generic medicine manufacturers as part of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark, looking at how they perform in addressing AMR and ensuring access to antimicrobial products such as antibiotics and antifungals.