OBJECTIVES:  Pharmaceutical spending in Brazil represents approximately 11% of its total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Sales of generics represented 17.2% of the pharmacy sector by value and 21.3% by volume in 2010, and are expected to grow at a higher rate than the overall pharmacy market. This study looks at how the increase in generics use, along with reference price controls, may impact access to newly approved Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) drugs. METHODS:  An array of published data such as pricing process, current policies, sector-specific research articles contributed towards a framework to understand the key factors affecting access to CAPs drugs, were gathered.  The data then informed a telephone survey of national and regional healthcare stakeholders (N=5). RESULTS: Findings show that in Brazil: 1) New CAP products are placed in 1 of 2 product categories based on comparisons to comparator agents; 2) Category I products are considered to be better than the comparator and can charge a premium price; 3) The price cannot exceed the lowest price of 9 reference countries, which are Australia, Canada, Spain, USA, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal; 4) Category II products do not demonstrate a benefit over the comparator and the price is based on a cost-minimization analysis; and 5) There are no national guidelines for treating CAP. CONCLUSIONS: Drugs used to treat CAP are compared to comparator agents based on clinical efficacy and overall patient benefit. This will determine placement in a product category that will drive pricing. Pharmaceutical companies developing new antibiotics to treat CAP must 1) consider launch sequence/timing in reference price countries; 2) assess the impact of price based on product category placement; 3) demonstrate cost–effectiveness of the drug; and 4) determine whether a new product will provide a benefit over comparator agents.