STAT+: Pharma is a ‘mixed bag’ when providing drug access to low- and middle-income countries, analysis finds

Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter.Many large pharmaceutical companies are taking steps to improve access to their medicines in low- and middle-income countries, but progress has been mixed and more action is needed to ensure wide availability, a new analysis found. Notably, more drugmakers are planning to reach patients before a product launch — access plans now cover 69% of late-stage pipeline candidates compared with 18% in 2018. And across the pipeline, 95% of late-stage experimental drugs developed with a nonprofit partner have an access plan in place, versus 67% without such a partner. Another bright spot involves cancer treatments. Access plans now cover 65% of cancer drugs in product pipelines, up from 5% in 2018. But 43% of access plans for non-communicable diseases — specifically, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and mental health — focus solely on regulatory registrations and primarily in wealthy countries. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe