- Novartis has climbed three places to secure the top position in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index.
- The Access to Medicine Foundation (ATMI) report highlights Novartis' leading role in research and development and access management, areas where Novartis ranked first.
- The Access to Medicine Index measures the performance of the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies in improving access to medicines and healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.
Basel, November 21, 2024 – Novartis has ranked first in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index (ATMI) report published today, highlighting the company’s leadership in improving access to medicines around the world.
The report specifically calls out Novartis leading portfolio and pipeline across non-communicable diseases and priority high-burden diseases such as malaria, Chagas disease, and dengue, and its widespread access strategies for late-stage pipeline candidates. Half of the best practices highlighted in the report reference Novartis.
The Index, published every two years, is an independent report that assesses 20 of the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to improve access to medicines, vaccines and diagnostics across 81 diseases in 113 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It also emphasizes the comprehensive access strategy, which is an essential part of the company's strategy, extensive registration of innovative products in low- and middle-income countries, and the use of an inclusive business model to improve access to Novartis products in low-income and least developed countries. In 2023, Novartis medicines reached 284 million patients worldwide, including 33.2 million patients through their access initiatives.
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said: "Our first-place ranking in the 2024 Access to Medicine Index reflects our fundamental commitment to ensuring breakthrough medicines reach people who need them, regardless of where they live. Throughout our company history, we’ve maintained access to medicine as a priority and continued to find ways to deeply integrate it into the earliest stages of our R&D pipeline. As a physician scientist who started his career in public health, I've seen firsthand the difference companies like ours can make in delivering treatment to patients. We have more to do as an industry to close the access gap, but today's recognition is made possible by our 70,000+ associates and partners who are committed to reimagining medicine so we can improve and extend patients' lives around the world.”
About the Access to Medicines Index
The ATMI is a bi-annual index published by the Access to Medicine Foundation (ATMF) and measures the performance of the top 20 research-based pharmaceutical companies to improve access to medicines and healthcare in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to the ATMI, Novartis participates in other Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings informing investor decision making, including CDP, Sustainalytics, ISS ESG, and MSCI.
The Access to Medicine Foundation is an independent non-profit organization established in 2003 that seeks to transform the healthcare ecosystem by motivating and mobilizing companies to expand access to their essential healthcare products in low- and middle-income countries. The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization, funded by the UK and Dutch governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Wellcome Trust, AXA Investment Managers and Stewart Investors. The Foundation is a registered charity in the Netherlands (ANBI status).