Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are biological products increasingly being used to treat a number of conditions, from cancers to Ebola to autoimmune disorders. They are also promising candidates for the treatment and prevention of many others, including COVID-19 and HIV. However, their high prices consume large portions of health budgets in countries where they are available. In many LMICs, they are not widely available at all. Increasing access to mAbs is an issue likely to rise on the global health agenda. Doing so will require action on many fronts in a complex global system. Improving broader understanding of the access challenges specific to mAbs is critical.
Ayesha Sitlani, principal investigator of a comprehensive study on mAbs recently published by IAVI and the Wellcome Trust, will present the key findings. The report investigated the current availability of mAbs worldwide and the main barriers impeding broader access. She will present potential solutions to overcoming these barriers, including: reducing development and manufacturing costs, expanding production, encouraging registration, developing new business models that reduce prices and prioritize access, and expanding procurement and delivery models.
Speakers
- Ayesha Sitlani, Associate Vice President, Antibody Strategy, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)
- Moderated by Marcela Vieira, Project Coordinator of the Knowledge Network for Innovation and Access to Medicines, Global Health Centre
