E-DRUG: Access to Medicine Foundation's latest research - Insulin
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Dear E-Druggers,
I am pleased to share the Access to Medicine Foundation's latest research report
<https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/news/drugmakers-that-dominate-the-worlds-insulin-market-must-scale-up-access-efforts-globally>
report
<https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/news/drugmakers-that-dominate-the-worlds-insulin-market-must-scale-up-access-efforts-globally>
published today focused on access to insulin in low- and middle-income countries: "What are pharma companies doing to expand access to insulin and how can efforts be scaled up?".
The report, produced by our diabetes research programme, aims to move the
conversation forward by taking a deeper look at what specific steps the key
pharmaceutical companies are taking to improve access to life-saving
treatment for patients living with diabetes, and more importantly, what
they can do next to move towards full equity.
The analysis focuses on four pharmaceutical companies: Sanofi (France), Eli Lilly (USA) and Novo Nordisk (Denmark), that between them control over 90% of the global insulin market, and Biocon (India), which is one of the largest producers of biosimilar insulin.
The report asks what these companies are currently doing to expand
the reach of their products in LMICs, where these initiatives are falling
short and where they can be expanded to the benefit of patients living with
diabetes.
The findings show that:
- Patients in LMICs face a lack of choice around the insulin that would
be best for them; our researchers found that of the 108 countries studied, only 29 had all the insulins classed as 'essential medicines' by the WHO, and in 24 countries, no insulins were registered at all.
- Pharmaceutical companies are pursuing various strategies to expand
access to their products in LMICs, including paediatric programmes, price
ceilings, and equitable pricing policies. While current efforts still fall short in addressing the global insulin inequity problem, especially i low-income countries, the report identifies ways in which companies are now
seeking sustainable approaches to scaling up access.
- There are opportunities for pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders, such as governments and health authorities, to prioritise access to insulin for people in LMICs, by increasing a patient's choice and by investing in optimising insulin supply, distribution, and administration.
You can download the report (PDF) from our website using this link
If you are interested in discussing this further, or in understanding how you can practically apply some of the recommendations proposed by this analysis to your work, please get in touch with us.
Claudia
Our new report
<https://accesstomedicinefoundation.org/news/drug-makers-must-address-access-to-antibiotics-to-help-slow-the-superbug-threat>
identifies the strategies pharma companies can use to improve access to life-saving antibiotics. With AMR rising faster than expected, there's an urgent need to ensure the right drugs are available globally to patients.
Claudia Martinez
Research Programme Manager
Access to Medicine Foundation
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Claudia Martinez <cmartinez@accesstomedicinefoundation.org>