Scope for generics companies to go further in LMICs

The inaugural report from the Access to Medicine Foundation's Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Program has taken a look at what five major industry players are doing to expand access to their products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This report marks the first time that generic or biosimilar medicine manufacturers have been assessed in-depth on their access-to-medicine efforts. This first iteration profiles Cipla (NSE: CIPLA), Hikma (LON: HIK), Sun Pharma (NSE: SUNPHARMA), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) and Viatris (Nasdaq: VTRS), analyzing their engagement in access and highlighting opportunities to address gaps in affordable and reliable access to the quality-assured essential medicines produced by these companies.

The backdrop of the report is that, despite the efforts of companies, generic and biosimilar products are still out of reach for many patients in LMICs, especially those from vulnerable populations. Even if a product is comparatively cheaper, payers may still not be able to afford it – including healthcare authorities in LMICs, as well as individuals who rely on paying out of pocket for their healthcare – and there are also significant availability issues.