Sub-Saharan Africa faces a significant and growing cancer burden, with an estimated 44% of all cancer cases on the continent occurring in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania alone. Recognizing the urgent need for improved cancer care in this region, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) have forged groundbreaking market access agreements with pharmaceutical leaders Pfizer Inc. and Cipla Inc. These collaborations are set to dramatically expand access to sixteen essential cancer treatment medications, including vital chemotherapies, across these six African nations. This initiative represents a critical step forward in addressing healthcare disparities and improving patient outcomes in areas where access to life-saving treatments has been severely limited.
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This collaborative effort is part of a larger strategy spearheaded by the ACS, with crucial support from CHAI, aimed at transforming the market landscape for cancer care in Africa. The core of these agreements lies in establishing competitive pricing for essential cancer medicines. This strategic pricing mechanism empowers African governments to achieve substantial cost savings, freeing up resources to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and broaden treatment availability without compromising on the quality of care.
Gary M. Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society, emphasized the global commitment of the organization: “For over a century, the American Cancer Society and our dedicated volunteers have been at the forefront of the fight against cancer. We firmly believe that the advancements we’ve made in the United States should not be confined by geographical borders. Access to cancer treatment is a fundamental right, regardless of where a person lives. Our collaboration with industry leaders like Pfizer and Cipla is a pivotal stride towards creating a level playing field for cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa and, ultimately, saving lives.”
Richard Blackburn, Global President, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Biosimilars, Pfizer Essential Health, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Pfizer’s dedication to global health: “Cancer is a rapidly escalating public health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, and Pfizer is deeply committed to partnering with stakeholders to confront this growing threat. Improving access to our medicines is a central pillar of Pfizer’s mission to combat non-communicable diseases worldwide. We are proud to join forces with the American Cancer Society and the Clinton Health Access Initiative to enhance the availability of these critical cancer treatments for patients in need.”
The necessity for such interventions is underscored by the stark realities of cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa. Limited access to treatments readily available in higher-income countries, coupled with the alarming prevalence of counterfeit cancer drugs, has created a dire situation. Tragically, cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa are nearly twice as likely to succumb to the disease compared to those in the United States. For instance, while the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer in the U.S. stands at an impressive 90%, in Uganda, it is a mere 46%. Alarmingly, cancer claims more lives in the region than both malaria and tuberculosis combined, highlighting the urgency of addressing this often-overlooked health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that by 2030, cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa will nearly equal those from HIV/AIDS, further emphasizing the escalating threat.
Ira Magaziner, CEO of CHAI, drew parallels to past global health challenges, stating, “The current state of cancer treatment access in Africa mirrors the formidable challenges we faced when working to expand access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS over a decade ago. While effective cancer treatments and early diagnostic tools are readily available in developed nations, market dynamics and systemic barriers have severely restricted access in Africa. Just as public-private collaborations revolutionized HIV/AIDS treatment, this partnership holds the transformative potential to revolutionize cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa and save countless lives each year.”
To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the volume pricing structure established through these agreements, ACS and CHAI are collaborating with IBM Health Corps, a pro bono consulting program. Together, they are developing and implementing ChemoQuant, an innovative chemotherapy forecasting software. This tool is designed to empower countries to accurately quantify their cancer medicine needs, enabling more effective budget planning and procurement processes. Uganda is currently piloting ChemoQuant, with five additional countries expected to adopt the software by the end of the year, promising a more data-driven and efficient approach to cancer medicine supply chains.
Jennifer Ryan Crozier, IBM’s Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and President of IBM’s International Foundation, commented on the impact of technology in this collaboration: “When the American Cancer Society approached us to contribute to their vision of combating cancer in underserved regions, we recognized the potential for a truly impactful partnership. By combining IBM’s expertise in cognitive computing, analytics, and software design with the ACS’s experience and vision, we have established a strong foundation for transformational advancements in cancer care.”
The escalating cancer burden in sub-Saharan Africa, coupled with persistently high mortality rates due to late diagnosis and treatment scarcity, demands urgent action. In 2012 alone, the region witnessed an estimated 626,000 new cancer cases and 447,000 cancer-related deaths. Cancer deaths are projected to almost double by 2030, driven by aging populations, further straining already fragile healthcare systems. Despite this growing crisis, global funding for cancer prevention and treatment in lower-income countries remains drastically insufficient, representing less than 2% of global health spending, far less than the resources allocated to diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. Facilitating access to high-quality, affordable chemotherapy agents is a crucial first step, but a multifaceted approach is essential. Addressing barriers such as limited access to treatment facilities and healthcare workforce shortages remains paramount. ACS and its partner organizations are committed to developing and implementing long-term, comprehensive strategies to overcome the numerous obstacles faced by cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreements with Pfizer and Cipla are integral to a broader strategy being implemented by ACS and CHAI in collaboration with African health ministries. This comprehensive approach aims to improve patient access to affordable, quality-assured oncology medicines and enhance government procurement capabilities. Key components of this strategy include reducing reliance on intermediaries and private distributors, stabilizing medicine prices, optimizing order volumes, streamlining the registration of products approved by stringent regulatory bodies, and facilitating the entry of international suppliers offering a range of quality-approved products. Analyses of current procurement practices suggest that African governments, through effective implementation of these programs, could transition to more cost-competitive, quality-assured medicines while potentially reducing current expenditures by more than half.
The agreement with Pfizer encompasses a range of essential chemotherapy medications: Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Docetaxel, Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, Fluorouracil, Gemcitabine, Leucovorin, Methotrexate, Oxaliplatin, and Paclitaxel.
The agreement with Cipla includes: Anastrazole, Bleomycin, Capecitabine, Carboplatin, Cisplatin, Cytarabine, Oxaliplatin, and Vinblastine.
These pivotal market access agreements were meticulously negotiated by CHAI, with financial and technical support provided by ACS. Both organizations are committed to ongoing collaboration to pursue further market access agreements, continually expanding the reach and impact of this vital initiative.
References:
- International Agency for Research on Cancer. GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012 [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2014 May 12]. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Default.aspx
- Sankaranarayanan R, Swaminathan R, Brenner H, Chen K, Chia KS, Chen JG, et al. Cancer survival in Africa, Asia, and Central America: a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2010 Feb;11(2):165–73.
- World Health Organization. Global health estimates summary tables: Projection of deaths by cause, age and sex, by World Bank income group and WHO Region [Internet]. Geneva, World Health Organization; 2013 [cited 2017 Apr 28]. Available from: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/projections/en/
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Financing Global Health 2016: Development Assistance, Public and Private Health Spending for the Pursuit of Universal Health Coverage [Internet]. IHME, Seattle, WA; 2016 [cited 2017 Apr 28]. Available from: http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/policy_report/FGH/2017/IHME_FGH2016_Technical-Report.pdf
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global force of 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, ACS has contributed to a 25 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991 and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. ACS is a leading private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have access to the support they need and advocating for quality health care, lifesaving screenings, and more. ACS does not endorse any product or service nor any particular brand of cancer drugs and is not a provider of medical services. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
About the Clinton Health Access Initiative
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems and expanding access to care and treatment in the developing world. CHAI focuses on improving market dynamics for medicines and diagnostics, lowering treatment prices, accelerating access to lifesaving technologies, and building government capacity for high-quality care and treatment programs. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org
SOURCE American Cancer Society
