Analysis of Pharmaceutical Company Actions in Asia-Pacific to Improve Patient Access

OBJECTIVES: Low rates of public reimbursement and affordability of innovative therapies in LMICs in APAC lead to limited patient access. The objective of this research is to examine the efforts of major pharmaceutical companies in enhancing access to treatment in a limited public reimbursement environment in select APAC markets through innovative collaborations and initiatives.

METHODS: This study analyses data collected solely from published available sources. These include company websites, manufacturer association websites, websites of non-governmental organizations and news releases by companies. The period of analysis is limited to past 10 years (2014 to 2024). Only data pertaining to identifiable originator drug(s) post launch where partnership including a minimum of one non- government stakeholder is included in scope. Markets in scope include China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Where it is reported that an initiative applies to a region, it is assumed that the initiative is available in all countries in that region unless stated otherwise.

RESULTS: The study found that access programs overwhelmingly target oncology therapy area. The primary emphasis of majority of the programs was to tackle affordability issues. In terms of geographical distribution, a concentration of these initiatives was observed in China and India. The execution of a large number of these plans necessitates involvement of more than one stakeholder. Additionally, it is common for these plans to cover multiple drugs and indications.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings underline the dominance of oncology in access programs, with affordability as the primary driver. The study highlights the need to create and execute a comprehensive market access strategy that involves multi-stakeholder collaboration to expand coverage and improve patient access. Although the findings demonstrate a dominance in oncology, non-oncological treatments (particularly high-cost technologies) also need a targeted market access strategy, taking into consideration the nuances of the region, unmet need and policy dynamics.