Assessment of Economic Accessibility of MS Therapies in Middle-Income Countries
A study observed that while all examined medicines for multiple sclerosis were authorized for use in 16 country combinations, none were affordable based on local wage earnings. Burden of medicine costs varied significantly across countries, with prices in the US ranking highest after adjustments for local purchasing power.
- Tags
- #MSResearch
- Most relevant to
- —
- Human efficacy
- Not established from this source
- Mechanism
- Not reported
- Evidence strength
- Limited
- Outcome
- Not reported
Why it matters
This highlights the disconnection between marketing authorization and actual affordability of expensive MS treatments, particularly in middle-income countries, emphasizing the need to consider economic contexts when evaluating drug accessibility.
What this does not prove
The study does not prove that lower prices lead to better access, nor does it assess detailed mechanisms affecting patient affordability. Future studies should examine local purchasing power and acquisition costs more thoroughly.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Observational
- Participants / samples
- Not reported
- Randomised
- Not reported
- Controlled
- Not reported
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-10-31
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
- Biological target
- Not reported
- Pathway
- Not reported
- Population
- Not reported
- Size of effect
- Not reported
- Secondary endpoints
- Not reported
- MRI endpoints
- Not reported
- Biomarkers
- Not reported
- Safety
- Not reported
Original sources
- Primary evidenceAffordability and relative economic burden of multiple sclerosis biologics in South America: a cross-country analysis of prices, purchasing power and regulatory access. ↗DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2026.2757886
Supporting passages (6)
study designPublication types: Journal Article
subjectsBACKGROUND: High-cost biological therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) may have lower nominal prices in middle-income countries yet impose greater burden relative to local purchasing capacity.
findingsRESULTS: Historical marketing authorization was documented in all 16 medicine-country combinations (100%), and observable prices were identified in 14 (87.5%). None of the 14 assessable combinations met the adapted regimen-based affordability criterion. Under primary price scenarios, monthly-equivalent burden ranged from 27.2 calendar-day equivalents of statutory minimum-wage income for interferon beta-1a in Peru to 326.2 for alemtuzumab in Brazil. Although US nominal prices were generally highest, purchasing-power and wage adjustment altered country rankings.
limitationsCONCLUSIONS: Historical marketing authorization and lower nominal prices did not imply economic accessibility. Cross-country assessments should integrate purchasing power, wages and regimen-based acquisition costs.
publication datePublication date: 2026-10-31
peer reviewedPublication types: Journal Article
AI assessment, not yet reviewed by a person · version 1 · Community votes are separate from evidence review.