Pfizer Boosts Access to Cancer Treatments in Developing Countries

February 16, 2021 - Pfizer and the IDA Foundation recently partnered to provide equitable access to quality cancer treatments in nearly 70 developing countries.

Under the partnership agreement, millions of more patients across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific region, will have the opportunity to access innovative chemotherapy medicines for various types of cancer. 

“I am proud to announce this landmark partnership, which brings us one step closer to our objective of ensuring cancer patients everywhere have sustainable access to the quality treatments they need,” Michelle Akande, vice president of global health partnerships at Pfizer, said in the announcement.

“We continue to identify new partners from all sectors who share our vision and commitment to improve health system and patient level outcomes, and provide long-term access to innovative, life-saving medicines to everyone, everywhere,” Akande continued. 

Developing countries bear about 60 percent of the global cancer burden and account for 70 percent of cancer deaths, Pfizer stated. Providing access to Pfizer’s oncology portfolio allows governments and non-governmental organizations in developing countries to improve access to available treatments and increase budgets for cancer care. 

Specifically, Pfizer’s portfolio of sterile injectable treatments will be made available to an additional 62 countries not previously served by existing market access agreements. 

The countries granted access include 11 low- and middle-income markets in the WHO Western Pacific area, which has the highest cancer mortality rate in the world, Pfizer stated. 

Additionally, the agreement covers 18 essential cancer treatments and 30 formulations,  including treatment options for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.

“With approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occurring in low- and middle-income countries, it is an urgent health burden which needs to be addressed. We believe this collaboration with Pfizer can help to bridge a gap and make quality essential medicines affordable and accessible in countries where they are needed most,” said Wendy Eggen, CEO of IDA Foundation.

The partnership furthers the work of Pfizer’s Global Health Partnerships team, which collaborates with the top health and development organizations to boost access to innovative medicines and vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.

Additionally, the partnership builds on Pfizer’s collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). Throughout the years, the partnership has provided access to Pfizer’s portfolio of oncology treatments in 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Underserved countries that access products through the agreements save nearly 56 percent of the cost of the medicines, Pfizer said.  

Sub-Saharan Africa's cancer burden is significant and continues to grow year over year. 

An estimated 752,000 new cancer cases and 506,000 cancer deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa in 2018, with numbers expected to nearly double by 2030. 

Cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to die as patients in the US due to late diagnosis and lack of access to treatment. 

Last June, the ACS and the CHAI announced agreements with Pfizer, Novartis, and Mylan to expand access to 20 lifesaving cancer treatments in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. 

Medication included in the agreements meet FDA or EMA standards, cover 27 different types of cancer, and enable complete chemotherapy regimens for three cancers that cause the most deaths in Africa, including breast, cervical, and prostate. 

The agreements reach 23 countries in Africa, covering 74 percent of the annual cancer cases. The medicines will be available for purchase at newly and independently negotiated prices in the designated countries, the June announcement stated. 

Additionally, the ACS, CHAI, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), are working with the African Cancer Coalition, which includes 110 leading oncologists from 13 African countries, to adapt the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines).

The guidelines will highlight approaches that provide effective treatment options to improve the quality of care in resource-constrained settings at no charge to health care providers.