Sullivan Mark
Medicines Development for Global Health, Melbourne, Australia.
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Future Healthc J. 2025 Jun 30;12(2):100255. doi: 10.1016/j.fhj.2025.100255. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Modern pharmaceuticals represent some of the greatest achievements in science and economic development. Yet, despite significant progress, profound inequities in access to essential medicines persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Traditional market-driven pharmaceutical models have succeeded where strong commercial incentives exist, but have failed to deliver for diseases with limited market potential, particularly in the neglected tropical diseases. This article outlines the reasons for inequity within the current system, the role of not-for-profit pharmaceutical development, and the urgent need for a new, complementary model for access that centres on public health priorities rather than market return.
现代制药代表了科学和经济发展方面的一些最伟大成就。然而,尽管取得了重大进展,但在基本药物的获取方面仍存在严重的不平等现象,特别是在低收入和中等收入国家(LMICs)。传统的市场驱动型制药模式在存在强大商业激励的领域取得了成功,但在市场潜力有限的疾病方面却未能发挥作用,尤其是在被忽视的热带病方面。本文概述了当前体系中存在不平等的原因、非营利性药物研发的作用,以及迫切需要一种以公共卫生优先事项而非市场回报为核心的新的补充性获取模式。