OBJECTIVES: Investigate patient access to innovative Multiple Myeloma drugs (10 drugs were evaluated) while considering the factors affecting pharmaceutical pricing across the globe (across 35 countries with a focus on Asia and LATAM emerging markets) including investigation of HTA decisions to determine whether equity principles have been applied.

METHODS: Desk research was used to analyse the pricing (benchmarked against Affordability / Tiered pricing principles), HTA and regulatory environment across 35 markets to benchmark access between emerging markets and mature markets often by HTAs. A survey was used to enable stakeholders to evaluate the analysis and provided initial reactions to potential policy implications to improve patient access to Multiple Myeloma drugs across Emerging Markets.

RESULTS: Our research evaluated the principles of tiered pricing which are based on equity principles (Pricing using GNI-based indexes) and the role of HTA decision making on patient access to multiple myeloma drugs. Outputs determined that a significant proportion of patients cannot access modern innovations in many UMI & LMI markets. Stakeholders quantitatively ranked potential policy options to address patient access considerations in emerging markets including adoption of joint procurement models, expansion of EDLs and compulsory fair pricing principles.

CONCLUSIONS: Consistently across Emerging Markets our analysis demonstrated that MM products that gained low benefit assessment rating at EU HTAs failed to gain public funded access in emerging markets. For products rated highly by benefit assessments in EU we found significant gaps in coverage across UMI and LMI markets. Tiered pricing principles were leveraged to evaluate if pricing is a cause of inequities, and a fresh look is required by several manufactures if they are to live up to the ATMI goals and aspirations. Stakeholder survey backs significant policy shifts are needed across Emerging Markets if multiple myeloma patients are to gain equitable access and enhanced outcomes levels.