Advancing Global Pharmacoequity in Oncology

Limited availability and affordability of cancer drugs contribute to staggering disparities in cancer survival between high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As infrastructure for cancer care rapidly develops, there is an urgent need to reduce prices and improve access to cancer medicines in LMICs to advance pharmacoequity globally.

Prior strategies to expand access to cancer medicines in LMICs have primarily relied on charity or differential pricing and have yielded limited results. Policymakers at the World Health Assembly recently proposed several strategies to increase global access to cancer drugs. Reviewing empirical data and lessons learned from medication access programs for HIV, COVID-19, and other infectious diseases, 3 strategies that multilateral organizations can use to reduce prices of cancer drugs in LMICs are discussed herein. These include (1) building regional technology transfer and manufacturing hubs, (2) expanding and streamlining use of compulsory licenses, and (3) implementing global standards for drug price transparency. Counterpoints to the critiques of these policies are critiqued and how programs can use these strategies to build on existing disease-centered initiatives is discussed.

Lessons learned from the global response to HIV and COVID-19 show that international collaboration and support from the World Health and Trade Organizations can ensure a unified, coordinated agenda for advancing access to care in LMICs. Building on these lessons and implementing similar approaches for cancer drugs can play a critical role in expanding accessibility and affordability of cancer medicines in LMICs. With a growing burden of cancer morbidity and mortality in LMICs, redoubled efforts to deliver essential cancer medications to LMICs would have an immense impact on global cancer control and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.