NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) today announced two separate groundbreaking market access agreements with Pfizer Inc. and Cipla Inc. to expand access to sixteen essential cancer treatment medications, including chemotherapies, in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. An estimated 44% of all cancer cases that occur in sub-Saharan Africa each year occur in these six countries (1). The agreements will set competitive prices on the medicines, thus allowing African governments to realize substantial savings while improving the quality of available treatment.  

The collaboration is part of a broader effort led by ACS and supported by CHAI to improve the market environment for cancer care in Africa.

“For more than a hundred years, the American Cancer Society and our volunteers have led the fight for a world without cancer, and we’re committed to making sure that the progress we’ve made in the United States is not limited to our borders,” stated Gary M. Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society.  “Every person with cancer deserves access to treatment, no matter where they live. Collaborating with companies like Pfizer and Cipla is a critical next step toward leveling the playing field for people with cancer and saving lives in this part of the world.”