Pfizer announced this Tuesday, January 17, a significant expansion of its product offering, from 23 to approximately 500 medicines and vaccines, as part of its commitment to an “Accord for a Healthier World”, an initiative transformative, working with governments and global health leaders to dramatically reduce the health access inequities that exist between many low-income countries and the rest of the world.
Launched in May 2022, the Accord initially included a commitment from Pfizer not-for-profit for access to 23 quality patented medicines and vaccines produced by Pfizer, available in the United States and European Union, in 45 low-income countries. income, says the firm.
However, to better reflect the disease burden and unmet patient needs in these countries, Pfizer will now expand its offering under the Agreement from the initial 23 products to the entire drug portfolio. and vaccines for which it holds worldwide rights – both patented and generic products, bringing the total offer to around 500 products.
As Pfizer launches new drugs and vaccines, these products will also be included in the nonprofit Accord’s portfolio.
The new portfolio includes medicines and vaccines, patented and generic, that treat or prevent many of the greatest infectious and non-communicable disease threats facing low-income countries today. This includes chemotherapy and oral cancer treatments that have the potential to treat nearly one million new cases of cancer in Accord countries each year.
It is also a wide range of antibiotics, which can help combat the morbidity, mortality and rising costs associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and help prevent approximately 1.5 million deaths that occur every year in these countries, as a result of bacterial infections in hospitals and community health clinics.
According to Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, the Accord was launched “in order to close the glaring equity gap that exists in the world in terms of access to health”.
“We hope to empower governments to take action and co-create solutions with them and other multi-sector partners. In the months since the launch of the Accord, these leaders have sent a resounding message to us that immediate access to a broader range of quality products is necessary for meaningful and lasting transformation,” he said. he continued.
And to add: “We believe that this expansion of our product offering, combined with continued efforts to remove barriers that limit or prevent access, will help us achieve and even accelerate our vision of a world where all have access to the medicines and vaccines they need to live longer, healthier lives.”
It should be noted that since its launch in May 2022, the Agreement for a Healthier World continues to make progress in its fight for global health equity, both through the supply of medicines and vaccines and through the strengthening of health systems.
Rwanda has already received delivery of nine Pfizer drugs and vaccines for the treatment of certain cancers and infectious and inflammatory diseases. In collaboration with the Rwandan Ministry of Health, Pfizer provided education and training for healthcare professionals to support the delivery.
In November, Pfizer deployed its first global health team to the country to help identify opportunities for long-term supply chain optimization. Collaboration is also underway with the Ministries of Health of Malawi, Ghana and Senegal, as well as a number of other Accord signatory countries, to better understand critical health care needs. health and opportunities for strengthening health systems.
In this regard, the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, affirmed that “the Agreement is an important step towards sustainable health security for Rwanda and for all countries. The expanded portfolio offering, combined with efforts to strengthen public health systems, will continue our progress and provide valuable support to key national health initiatives.”
As a reminder, the Deal for a Healthier World aims to close the gap in health equity that persists between wealthy nations and many low-income countries. The initiative aims to enable better access to health care for 1.2 billion people living in 45 low-income countries, including the 27 low-income countries as well as 18 lower-middle-income countries that have graduated from the category from low-income countries to that of lower-middle-income countries over the past decade.