Challenges and Opportunities to Access Innovation in Latin America: The Case of Combination Therapies for Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

Purpose: To address the barriers limiting access to combination therapies (CTs) in Latin America (LA), specifically for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), alongside a roadmap to address them. Methods: A panel of LA experts was provided with relevant questions to address in a multi-day conference. Responses were discussed and edited by the panel through numerous drafts and discussions until consensus was achieved. Results: The authors identified challenges in CT access in MM in LA and proposed suggestions to address these, including health technology assessment frameworks that assign value to each constituent, adapted legal structures enabling collaborative pricing negotiations, and innovative pricing and contracting mechanisms. These challenges and suggestions apply to CT for other oncologic diseases. Conclusion: Increasing CT access demands concerted efforts from all stakeholders. As regulatory and pricing barriers persist, a great need exists to increase CT access in LA. These suggestions can serve as a roadmap for CT adoption in other countries. Keywords: Latin America; combination therapy; multiple myeloma; value attribution, HTA, access, pricing; reimbursement.